Khalid Satary, 54, a foreign national and one of the country’s most sought-after fugitives, was apprehended for his involvement in a $547 million Medicare fraud scheme.
The Department of Justice reported the arrest followed years of the defendant being on the run after he fled the United States in 2022,.
According to federal officials, Satary owned and operated several diagnostic testing laboratories that billed Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests.
Between 2016 and 2019, the scheme allegedly utilized deceptive marketing, telemarketing call centers, and illegal kickbacks to generate samples that reimbursed between $10,000 and $20,000 each.
Satary was originally indicted in 2019 in the Eastern District of Louisiana as part of a massive law enforcement action against health care fraud.
He was released on bond but allegedly violated his conditions by conspiring with laboratories in Houston, Texas, to continue fraudulent billing.
A federal warrant was issued in December 2022 after he failed to appear for a court hearing and subsequently fled the country.
Regional partners in the Middle East apprehended Satary on July 20, 2026, where he was found in possession of a fake Mexican passport under a different name,.
Acting Attorney General Blanche highlighted the government’s resolve in pursuing those who exploit the elderly and the healthcare system.
Expressing the Department’s commitment to justice, Blanche stated, “If you steal from American taxpayers and exploit vulnerable patients, we will find and prosecute you, no matter where you are”.
The capture represents a significant milestone for the newly established White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,.
FBI Director Kash Patel noted that Satary is the third “Most Wanted Fraudster” captured by the bureau and its partners in just five weeks.
Discussing the success of recent initiatives, Patel said, “Satary has been on the run since 2022, but we got him thanks to great work and coordination from the interagency and our overseas partners”.
The FBI added Satary to its most wanted list on June 23, and he was apprehended less than a month later.
This arrest marks the 27th high-value target returned from overseas by the FBI since June.
United States Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana emphasized the impact of these crimes on the public trust.
Regarding the defendant’s attempts to evade the law, Courcelle noted, “Mr. Satary’s eventual apprehension demonstrates the Department of Justice’s unflagging commitment to protect taxpayers’ monies and prosecute those who violate the public trust”.
The investigation involved a coordinated effort between the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General,.
Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett said the capture is a vital step toward accountability for those who exploit federal health programs.
The Department of Justice also credited U.S. Customs and Border Protection International Operations for their assistance in the Middle East.
Satary made his initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia following his arrival at Washington Dulles International Airport.
He currently faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud or money laundering, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The government has already seized 16 bank accounts and restrained real estate tied to Satary in connection with the 2019 indictment.
Federal authorities continue to focus on strike forces that have charged more than 6,200 defendants for billing over $45 billion in fraudulent claims since 2007.