U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana

06/24/2026

National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 455 Defendants Charged in Fraud Scheme Totaling Over $6.5 Billion

As a part of the Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, The Eastern District of Louisiana Strike Force Announces Charges Against Two Individuals.

Today, United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced criminal charges against two defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, and other health care benefit programs. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from schemes to submit claims for medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (“RPP”) testing and fraudulent claims for care that a provider did not provide to patients. Additionally, arrests were announced by the State of Louisiana’s Attorney General’s Office pursuant to criminal charges against three defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicaid. See more.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/national-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-455-defendants-charged-fraud-scheme

06/24/2026

National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 455 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $6.5 Billion in Alleged Fraud

Record Medicaid Fraud Charges Largest Number of States Participating in Health Care Fraud Takedown History

The Justice Department today announced the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. See more.

The Justice Department today announced the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 bill...

06/23/2026

Today, at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana’s Naturalization Ceremony, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Sears issued the statement of petitioners’ eligibility for citizenship and presented petitioners’ requests for name change. AUSA Sears then announced the names of the 18 new citizens. The ceremony was presided over by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.
Congratulations to our newest Americans!

06/22/2026

Great meeting today with Sergeant Todd Rivere of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office regarding continued collaboration and crime fighting efforts with respect to arson and explosion investigations. Thank you Sergeant Rivere for visiting the U.S. Attorney's Office today.

06/22/2026

Did someone call, text, or email and say you have to pay the government immediately, in a specific way, or you’ll be in trouble? That’s a government imposter. No one from the government will ever demand payment only with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Only a scammer will. ejcc.acl.gov/imposters

06/18/2026

If someone says they’re from the government and tells you to move your money or put it in a federal locker, that’s an imposter scam. No one from the government will ever tell you that your money isn’t safe and you must move it to “protect it.” Only a scammer will. ejcc.acl.gov/imposters

06/18/2026

Honduran Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ERIK ROBERTO MACHADO-MENCIA, a/k/a “Roberto Machado-Mencia,” (“MACHADO-MENCIA”), age 37, a native of Honduras, pled guilty on June 11, 2026, to re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. See more.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/honduran-illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien

06/18/2026

California Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property from Metairie Business

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – PATRICK GARLAND (“GARLAND”), 40, California resident, was sentenced on June 10, 2026, for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. See more.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/california-man-sentenced-conspiracy-commit-interstate-transportation-stolen-property

06/18/2026

New Orleans Man Sentenced for Theft of Stolen Mail and Possession of USPS Property

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JALEN C. VALDERY (“VALDERY”), age 27, was sentenced on June 10, 2026, to two years imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. See more.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/new-orleans-man-sentenced-theft-stolen-mail-and-possession-usps-property

06/18/2026

A Louisiana nurse practitioner was sentenced today to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release for causing over $12 MILLION in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary cancer genetic tests.

Thanks to the Fraud Division's joint efforts with FBI, USAO-EDLA, and HHS-OIG, Scharmaine Lawson Baker, 59, of Fulshear, Texas, has been held accountable for defrauding Americans.

Full story: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nurse-practitioner-sentenced-87-months-prison-12m-medicare-fraud