The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky has announced criminal charges against five individuals in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicaid and divert controlled substances. These charges are part of the Department of Justice's 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a nationwide law enforcement action targeting health care fraud and illegal drug diversion.
United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner stated that these defendants allegedly breached trust by illegally diverting controlled substances. "Health care providers must be trusted to appropriately prescribe highly-addictive medications only to those in need," said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. He emphasized that those charged have violated their professional obligations and will face accountability.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented on the significance of this operation, describing it as a "record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown" that aims to deliver justice against those who exploit vulnerable citizens and misuse taxpayer dollars.
In total, 324 defendants have been charged across various jurisdictions for their alleged involvement in schemes involving over $14.6 billion in false billings and more than 15 million pills of diverted controlled substances. Assets worth over $245 million, including cash and luxury vehicles, have been seized.
Among those charged in Kentucky are Ashley Barnett, Laura Webb, Rachel Goldstein, Kristina Coomer, and Matthew Ryan Elkins. They face various charges related to the illegal use of DEA registration numbers, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by deception, theft of medical products, tampering with consumer products, health care fraud, and burglary involving controlled substances.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari and Erin McKenzie from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Nationwide efforts include participation from multiple U.S. Attorneys' Offices across states such as California, Florida, New York, Texas among others; along with State Attorneys General’s Offices in several states including California and Illinois.
The investigations were supported by various law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Kentucky State Police (KSP), Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General.
Descriptions of each case involved can be found on the Department's website: https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/2025-national-health-care-fraud-takedown.
All defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court proceedings.
