US has arrested California Health Care CEO accused of fleeing to Nigeria in $7 million VA Fraud Scheme.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that US federal authorities have arrested the CEO of a California-based home health care company who allegedly attempted to flee to Nigeria while facing accusations of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud targeting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the suspect was apprehended at San Francisco International Airport moments before boarding a flight to Nigeria.
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The arrest follows a five-year federal investigation into fraudulent claims submitted for medical services that were never provided including billings for veterans who had already died.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
The suspect, identified as Cashmir Chinedu Luke, 66, operated Four Corners Health LLC, which claimed to provide unskilled in-home nursing care under the VA’s Veterans Community Care Program.
Federal prosecutors say Luke submitted approximately 10,000 false claims between December 2019 and July 2024, leading to over $7 million in improper reimbursements.
Court documents allege the claims included:
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Duplicate submissions
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Hours of care that were never worked
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Days caretakers were not present
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Billings for veterans who were already deceased
Investigators also revealed that Luke spent the funds almost immediately after receiving them, using the money for luxury personal expenses and transferring large amounts through bank accounts across Asia and Africa.
Possible Penalties
If convicted, Luke faces:
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Up to 10 years in federal prison
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A $250,000 fine
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the charges remain allegations and that Luke is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee and stems from an investigation led by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
