Title: Alleged Fraud Scheme Involving $90 Million Medicare Advantage Funds Unveiled
A foreign national suspected of illegally entering the United States has been charged in a fraud scheme that aimed to steal over $90 million in federal health care funds from the Medicare Advantage program, as per the Justice Department. Anar Rustamov, 38, was indicted for health care fraud involving false claims for medical equipment totaling more than $90 million. He is a foreign national from Azerbaijan who may have entered the U.S. illegally and previously resided in Sunnyvale, California.
Rustamov allegedly participated in a scheme to submit thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage Organizations on behalf of unsuspecting beneficiaries for medical equipment such as blood glucose monitors and orthotic braces. The indictment states that from October 2024 to June 2025, Rustamov used his company, Dublin Helping Hand, to submit a large volume of claims seeking reimbursement for medical equipment that was either not provided, unnecessary for patients, or not approved by a medical provider.
The indictment further reveals that the scheme involved using patients' information without their knowledge to submit claims, with the referring medical provider listed on the submissions not authorizing the claims. Rustamov is currently at large, according to federal officials. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California Craig H. Missakian emphasized that the administration's efforts to combat fraud target such misconduct, highlighting Rustamov's involvement in attempting to defraud taxpayer funds meant for those in genuine need of medical care.
Rustamov could potentially face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation if convicted. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California reiterated its commitment to collaborating with law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute instances of fraud and abuse within government programs.