A man from Geneva, Illinois, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded Medicare of more than $2 million through false claims for durable medical equipment (DME). Kartik Bhatia, 36, received the sentence from U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris in federal court in Boston.
Bhatia was charged in August 2025 with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and making false statements. He worked with Raju Sharma and other associates to operate a DME company that paid telemarketing firms to generate orders for orthotic devices such as ankle, wrist, knee, and back braces. Many Medicare beneficiaries who received these devices did not need or request them. Additionally, doctors whose signatures appeared on the orders often had not treated the patients or prescribed the equipment.
After authorities suspended payments to Bhatia’s original DME company, he opened a new one that continued similar fraudulent activities.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Sarah Hoefle prosecuted the case.