California Residents Admit Guilt in $16 Million Medicare Hospice Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

In a notable development in the fight against healthcare fraud, two residents from California have pleaded guilty to participating in a massive scheme that defrauded Medicare of nearly $16 million. This case underscores the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to tackle healthcare fraud, particularly involving hospice services in the Los Angeles area.

According to court documents, Karpis Srapyan, 35, of Winnetka, California, admitted to conspiracy charges related to healthcare fraud and money laundering. Srapyan, along with co-defendants Petros Fichidzhyan and Juan Carlos Esparza, orchestrated an extensive operation involving four sham hospice companies. These fraudulent entities billed Medicare for hospice services that were neither necessary nor provided, exploiting the identities of multiple doctors—two of whom were deceased.

To conceal their activities, the defendants used personal information from foreign nationals to open bank accounts, lease properties, and submit fraudulent documentation to Medicare. The fraudulent scheme ultimately led Medicare to pay out nearly $16 million.

Susanna Harutyunyan, 39, also from Winnetka, pleaded guilty to money laundering. Harutyunyan, along with her husband and co-defendant Mihran Panosyan, maintained fraudulent documents and financial instruments at their residences. These included fake identification documents, banking records, and credit cards under the names of purported foreign business owners. Harutyunyan knowingly utilized funds derived from the fraud for personal expenditures, including the purchase of a BMW.

The financial transactions related to the laundering of funds totaled approximately $3.2 million. These transactions involved moving money through multiple accounts controlled by the defendants.

Srapyan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on October 6. Harutyunyan faces up to 10 years imprisonment and potential deportation, with her sentencing scheduled for November 17. Co-defendants Fichidzhyan and Panosyan previously pleaded guilty, with Fichidzhyan already serving a 12-year sentence.

This case highlights the Justice Department’s commitment to combating healthcare fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has charged thousands of defendants who collectively attempted to defraud billions from federal healthcare programs.

Investigations are ongoing, conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Federal prosecutors continue to aggressively pursue such cases, ensuring that those who exploit critical healthcare services face significant consequences.

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