LA doctor jailed for $45m Medicare fraud funding luxury purchases

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 02:44 · Archive

Violetta Mailyan, 45, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding Medicare of more than $45 million through her Botox clinic.

Violetta Mailyan, 45, of Glendale, California, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted her of running a massive fraud operation through her medical clinic, Healthy Way Medical Center. She submitted more than $45 million in fraudulent claims for Botox treatments, which Medicare covers only when medically necessary for chronic migraines. Mailyan billed for treatments that were unnecessary, performed for cosmetic purposes, never administered at all, or involved patients without proper physician referrals.

Prosecutors presented evidence that more than $19 million in claims involved Botox injections supposedly performed on days when the clinic was closed. Mailyan also submitted claims while travelling to Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania and New York. In one instance, she billed Medicare over $200,000 for treatments supposedly provided to California patients while she was in Cabo San Lucas. UPI reports that one patient she claimed to have treated was serving time in federal prison when the supposed appointment occurred.

Mailyan used proceeds from the fraud to purchase luxury items including two Tesla vehicles, a Cybertruck, five California properties, a 17th-century crossbow valued at $12,000 and a $3,000 painting. A federal jury convicted her in May on nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of obstructing a healthcare fraud investigation. The court ordered her to pay $32.9 million in restitution to Medicare and surrender over $16 million in seized assets.

How it is being reported

• Calif. Botox doctor gets 15 years for $45 million Medicare fraudA California doctor who fraudulently billed Medicare $45 million for Botox injections while she was vacationing was sentenced to 15 years in prison.UPI · 1 Nov, 02:34
• LA botox doctor learns fate for $45M Medicare scheme that funded luxury vacationsEvidence presented at trial showed more than $19 million in claims involved Botox injections supposedly performed on days when the clinic was closed.New York Post · 31 Oct, 01:22

In this story: Violetta Mailyan · Healthy Way Medical Center · Glendale · Medicare · California

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log