Opinion and Commentary By Donna Westfall – October 5, 2025 Back in June of this year, a Press Release was issued from the Office of Public Affairs, the U.S. Department of Justice involving over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud "Monday, June 30, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Largest Justice Department Health Care Fraud Takedown in History More than Doubles Prior Record of $6 Billion The Justice Department today announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended loss. The Takedown involved federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country and represents an unprecedented effort to combat health care fraud schemes that exploit patients and taxpayers." Rather than include everything on this page involving the fraud at this time because it's very lengthy, we can start to investigate what else is happening around our nation involving fraud: In another case from the United States Attorney's office, District of Maryland, 54 year old accountant, Harold Dodson was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison, 3 years supervised release and ordered to pay more than $24 million in restitution in connection with a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting financial institutions. This involved the COVID relief fund. Let's turn our attention to another scheme: Operation Gold Rush $10 billion in claims submitted to Medicare. $941 million received. 15 individuals including 11 of which a 24 year old Russian man, eight men from Estonia most living in Brooklyn, New York, and one from the Czech Republic; several of them sentenced and some waiting extradition. US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, announced the charges in June 2025. As you can tell, a lot of money was diverted out of our country. “This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” stated Attorney General Bondi. 'Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities'.” While President Trump is fighting with Democrats over the government shut down in large part because he wants Medicaid cuts to illegals, it's good to know that his team members like AG Bondi are eagerly pursuing these criminals and seizing assets and cash. In our own town, many complained about allegations of fraud involving our Wastewater Treatment Plant. Complaints were made to the Grand Jury. Nothing was done. Every time the City wants to increase sewer rates, someone will go up during public comment and say, "There's no statute of limitations for fraud." The last time this happened in 2024, sewer rates were not increased. The questions we must ask is how in the world do these schemes get started whether it's local or international? That's an article for another day.