Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez jointly announced the cases, highlighting cooperation between federal investigators and the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Federal and state law enforcement officials announced coordinated actions Tuesday targeting alleged Medicaid and prescription fraud in New Mexico as part of what the U.S. Department of Justice described as the largest health care fraud enforcement action in its history.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez jointly announced the cases, highlighting cooperation between federal investigators and the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The New Mexico actions were part of a nationwide operation that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including physicians, medical professionals and business operators accused of participating in health care fraud and opioid-related schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (Left), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison (Right).
New Mexico Cases
In one case, federal prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking more than $2 million allegedly connected to a scheme involving Safeway Medical Transportation LLC, a non-emergency medical transportation provider serving Medicaid recipients in New Mexico.
According to the complaint, the company allegedly submitted fraudulent claims for transportation services, including trips that did not occur, duplicate billing, inflated mileage and falsified transportation records. Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of funds alleged to be proceeds of health care fraud and money laundering.
In a separate state case, the New Mexico Department of Justice charged a McKinley County man with multiple felony offenses after allegedly using forged prescriptions to obtain Schedule II controlled substances from a pharmacy.
Federal-State Partnership
Officials emphasized that the New Mexico investigations were conducted through collaboration between federal and state agencies, including the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Attorney General Torrez said the cases demonstrate the state’s ongoing effort to protect taxpayer-funded health care programs and pursue individuals accused of exploiting medical systems for financial gain.
Ellison said health care fraud diverts resources away from programs relied upon by vulnerable communities and pledged continued efforts to recover funds allegedly obtained through fraudulent schemes.
National Scope
According to the Department of Justice, the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown involved cases in 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories, with participation from 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units—the largest number in the program’s history.
Federal officials reported more than $182 million in seized cash and assets during the operation, along with administrative actions affecting thousands of health care providers nationwide.
The allegations announced Tuesday remain accusations. Civil complaints and criminal charges are not findings of wrongdoing, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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