California latest target in Department of Justice efforts to end public benefits fraud

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than a dozen people in Southern California were charged with allegedly siphoning nearly $2 billion in fraudulent healthcare costs, the Department of Justice and state prosecutors announced Thursday, as President Donald Trump’s administration ramps up efforts to end the abuse of federal aid programs.

Fifteen people were charged and so far at least eight were arrested in connection with fraud at substance abuse treatment centers, hospice services and surgeons in California, prosecutors said. At least six of those charged were doctors — including one who is accused of performing unnecessary and invasive surgeries to bill Medicaid for over $130 million.

“If you treat healthcare patients as dollar bills, the Department of Justice is coming for you,” said Colin M. McDonald, assistant attorney general for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. He was flanked by FBI officials and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

The operation is the latest in a recent wave of arrests related to alleged public benefits fraud, an issue that has emerged as a cornerstone of the president's agenda throughout his second term. Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday announced a $25 million program to encourage whistleblowers to report suspected fraud in the U.S. government.

High-ranking federal officials in recent days have touted the crackdowns across the country ahead of a competitive midterm election that will decide the balance of power in the U.S. Congress for the final two years of Trump's second term.

Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche announced in Cincinnati on Wednesday that the administration had uncovered over $40 million in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits nationwide since September. Thirteen people in Ohio were indicted as part of that crackdown.

In Missouri, meanwhile, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday announced a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice to “aggressively identify, investigate and prosecute fraud” in Medicaid, SNAP and other federally funded benefits administered by the state.

“Missouri is all-in in the Trump administration’s unprecedented war on fraud,” Kehoe said while flanked by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and two U.S. attorneys.

Hanaway said the endeavor is a continuation of existing antifraud efforts, with improved federal-state cooperation.

In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning, federal authorities descended on a massive gated house in the upscale residential neighborhood of Tarzana in Los Angeles. There, they arrested Hany Malek, 61, a chiropractor indicted on charges that he posed as a doctor in order to refer patients for medically unnecessary atherectomies — an invasive procedure in which a catheter is used to clear plaque from arteries.

Prosecutors say Malek referred the patients to his business partner and surgeon, Dr. Harold Tabaie, 78, of Anaheim, who sometimes falsely told patients that the initial surgery was unsuccessful in order to justify another. The duo allegedly made roughly $134 million through these unnecessary procedures, prosecutors said.

Both men are charged with four counts of healthcare fraud, and the chiropractor is charged with an additional two counts of bank fraud. No attorneys were listed for either Malek or Tabaie. Efforts to reach both men through phones listed on public records were unsuccessful on Thursday morning.

Essayli took shots at California's state government, which has lately had increasingly public disputes with Trump's federal government. He called the state the “king of fraud.”

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom fired back on social media, pointing out that the majority of the fraud targeted in Thursday's raid was for federal or private insurance. Additionally, he wrote, the state helped the federal government in targeting the case that did impact state-funded public insurance.

A network of dozens of fake substance abuse treatment centers raked more than $1.5 billion — the bulk of the roughly $2 billion — for addiction treatment that was never provided.

Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed from Jefferson City, Missouri.

First assistant United States attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli talks after a press conference as he announced the arrests of fifteen defendants for health care fraud schemes on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

First assistant United States attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli speaks to the media during a press conference as he announces the arrests of fifteen defendants for health care fraud schemes on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Federal agents arrive to a suspect's house during a raid related to health care fraud in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Federal agents arrive to a suspect's house during a raid related to health care fraud in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Federal agents climb a fence to enter a suspect's house during a raid related to health care fraud in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Federal agents stand outside a suspect's house during a raid related to health care fraud in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Federal agents arrest a suspect during a raid related to health care fraud in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

CHICAGO (AP) — Round 2 went to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.

Williams passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bears cooled off Drake Maye and the New England Patriots with a 30-24 victory Thursday night.

It was the second meeting between the young quarterbacks since they were part of the 2024 NFL draft. Maye, who was selected by New England at No. 3, directed the Patriots to a 19-3 victory over Williams and the Bears when the longtime friends were rookies.

But Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, leaned on Luther Burden and Colston Loveland while outlasting Maye and the Patriots in the rematch. Williams connected on 22 of 33 passes in his second game back after being sidelined by a right hamstring injury.

“These nights are awesome,” Williams said. “You play against another good team on a primetime game in a short week, these games are awesome because you get to see who you are as a team. That’s who we are. We’re a smashmouth football team, an innovative team. And when things happen and things don’t go our way and the water is rocky, we stay steady.”

Maye was 24 for 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 7-yard run for New England's first TD with 11:33 left in the first half.

But Maye also was intercepted by Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson in the end zone on a pass intended for rookie tight end Eli Raridon late in the second quarter.

“It’s those plays, I talk about it all the time,” Maye said. “You know those plays that can swing the game, can impact the game and that was definitely one of them right there. Yeah, I wish I definitely had that one back.”

New England (4-3) had won three consecutive games behind Maye, who threw 10 TD passes and one interception during the win streak.

“He gave us a chance," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. "He competed and I know he’d like to have that throw back to Eli, but I thought he really competed. Whether that was running around and scrambling or finding good places to go with the football. He gave us a chance. ... I’m glad he’s ours.”

Burden had four catches for 130 yards for Chicago (5-2), and Loveland had a 12-yard touchdown reception. Cairo Santos kicked a 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left, a career long and matching the franchise record, after he missed a 53-yard attempt earlier in the final quarter.

Williams became the first Bears quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games since Mitch Trubisky had a three-game run in 2018.

“I think he did a pretty good job throughout the night,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “I know he had a number of explosive plays. He found some of those guys at the second level that were huge for us.”

After Santos’ long field goal, Maye drove New England into range for Andy Borregales’ 47-yarder with 37 seconds to go. But Chicago recovered the ensuing onside kick.

Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown for the Patriots. Raridon had a 30-yard TD catch in the third quarter.

“We did some good things,” Vrabel said. “But again, didn’t do enough.”

It was Chicago’s first home game since Mike Ditka died on Oct. 9. The Bears saluted the Hall of Fame tight end and longtime coach with a pregame moment of silence, and they also handed out fake mustaches to the crowd of 60,520 at Soldier Field.

Ditka’s No. 89 jersey dotted the stands, and fans also donned Bears sweaters in a callback to what he wore on the sideline as a coach.

Chicago opened a 20-7 lead on Burden’s 24-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half. Burden got the ball on a screen on third-and-17, and Loveland, Kalif Raymond and Darnell Wright helped clear the way for his second TD reception of the season.

“The whole calvary came ... and it was like a wave carrying him through there,” Johnson said. “He saw a little crease and hit the jets.”

Set to receive the second-half kickoff, the Bears were in position to pull away. But the Patriots responded with Stevenson’s 48-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the period.

Stevenson slipped out of the backfield and Maye lobbed the ball over the head of Bears safety Cam Lewis. Stevenson ran away from Lewis and got a downfield block from DeMario Douglas before cutting past Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on his way to the end zone.

Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez played after being listed as questionable because of an illness. ... S Kevin Byard departed after he was checked out by trainers with 9:44 left in first half. He later returned. ... DT Christian Barmore departed late in the game.

Bears: CB Malik Muhammad left in the third quarter with a toe injury. ... TE Cole Kmet hurt his right knee on a reception with 5:34 left. "We’ll know more tomorrow, but I don’t think it looked very good,” Johnson said.

Patriots: At Miami on Nov. 1.

Bears: At Seattle for a Monday night game Nov. 2.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) intercepts a pass intended for New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon (82) as Cam Lewis, center, looks on during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) watches his 58-yard field goal late in the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles as during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)