Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn charging Oleg Beretsky with several offenses including conspiring to commit health care fraud, violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and money laundering conspiracy. Beretsky was arrested in Naples, Florida, and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York.
The charges were announced by John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations New York (HSI New York); and Harry T. Chavis Jr., Special Agent in Charge at Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation New York (IRS-CI).
"As alleged, elderly individuals trusted the defendant to help them with their health care decisions," stated United States Attorney Durham. "Rather than look out for the interests of some of the most vulnerable members of our community, he sold access to those who trusted him to the highest bidder."
Durham also thanked HSI’s Fort Myers office and the New York City Police Department for their assistance on this case.
"Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute can divert much-needed federal health care program funds and corrupt the medical decision-making process," stated HHS-OIG Special Agent Gruchacz.
"The defendant and his co-conspirators are accused of pocketing more than $12 million while exploiting the unknowing, innocent public," said HSI New York Special Agent Alfonso.
"Millions of dollars were stolen from the American benefits system," stated IRS-CI Special Agent Chavis.
According to court filings, from January 2017 to April 2024, Beretsky owned Obest Inc., a company that allegedly provided billing services but primarily referred Medicare patients to providers for kickbacks. Many patients were immigrants from former Soviet Union countries identified through a nonprofit agency employee. Beretsky allegedly manipulated these relationships for financial gain.
Providers involved billed over $22 million in false claims to Medicare; more than $12.4 million was paid out by Medicare. To conceal these funds' illegal origins, payments were directed through relatives' accounts or paid in cash.
If convicted on all counts, Beretsky faces significant prison time: up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy; up to 10 years each for health care fraud conspiracy and kickback counts; and up to five years on kickback conspiracy count.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua B. Dugan with support from Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett and Timothy Migliaro.
OLEG BERETSKY
Age: 67
Naples, Florida
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-91 (RPK)
