Two men were sentenced for roles in a scheme involving more than $522 million in alleged fraudulent genetic-test claims targeting Medicare and Medicaid. Prosecutors say the tests were obtained through illegal kickbacks and involved fraudulent paperwork tied to purported beneficiaries.

The Department of Justice reports that two individuals received prison sentences for their participation in a large-scale genetic testing fraud and illegal kickback scheme affecting federal healthcare programs. According to the DOJ, the defendants’ conduct resulted in submission of more than $522 million in alleged fraudulent claims for genetic tests that prosecutors say were medically unnecessary. The government alleges the tests and claims were driven by bribery or other prohibited kickback arrangements used to secure access to DNA samples. Prosecutors further contend that paperwork tied to purported beneficiaries was fabricated or otherwise falsified to support the billing for costly genetic testing services. This type of healthcare fraud often leverages beneficiary or patient data, along with coordinated billing practices, to translate unlawful recruitment or sample acquisition into high-value reimbursements. The DOJ release frames the case as both a fraud and anti-kickback enforcement matter—targeting not just who filed claims, but how the underlying business arrangements were structured. The sentencing underscores the seriousness with which federal prosecutors treat Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes that manipulate billing requirements and exploit illegal incentives to generate reimbursable services.