• In January 2017, Legran Smbatyan was indicted on charges of making false statements and making false statements in a health care matter. According to the investigation, Smbatyan allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for ambulance transportation of beneficiaries to and from dialysis treatment.
• Smbatyan owned and operated National Ambulance, Inc., a medical transportation company located in Philadelphia, PA. According to the indictment, Smbatyan allegedly used a false identity, Vahe Matinyan, to enter the United States, and then to enroll his ambulance company with Medicare. Virtually all of National Ambulance's transports consisted of taking Medicare beneficiaries to and from dialysis - often three times per week. Smbatyan billed Medicare for these transports, including documenting that he was the ambulance driver on some trips. However, investigators believe the documentation for his submissions to Medicare were false, and therefore, should not have been approved by Medicare for reimbursement.
• Upon executing a search warrant, investigators were unable to locate Smbatyan. Authorities later determined that Smbatyan might have fled the United States, possibly residing in Armenia. He remains a fugitive-at-large.
• Authorities believe that Smbatyan is associated with a violent organization and should be considered dangerous. Smbatyan has used the following aliases: Vahe Matinyan, Arthur Grigoryan, Artur Grigoryan, and Legran Smbatyan. If you are aware of his whereabouts, do not approach him. File a report online or call the OIG Fugitive Hotline
• What was significant about the fraud and abuse issue(s) you learned about?
• What attempts were made, or could be made, to stop the fraud or abuse?
• What was the role of the Office of the Inspector General in addressing fraud or abuse in the case(s) you watched?