The Justice Department’s Criminal Division has announced that its Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force will now operate in the District of Massachusetts. This move brings additional federal resources to a region known for its significant health care and life sciences sectors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has established a strong reputation for health care enforcement, particularly in prosecuting complex fraud cases involving pharmaceutical companies, medical device firms, providers, and executives. In fiscal year 2025, the office’s Health Care Fraud Unit and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit recovered over $450 million in funds obtained through fraudulent means.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti stated, “Boston is home to world-class health care institutions, cutting-edge life sciences innovators, and a robust health care startup ecosystem, making it one of the most influential and active regions in the national health care landscape. The expansion of the New England Strike Force to Boston will ensure that we are focused, efficient, and coordinated in our efforts to root out both individual and corporate bad actors engaged in criminal misconduct in the health care marketplace.”
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts commented on the partnership: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has a long history of leading the nation in health care fraud enforcement. The unique partnership between our criminal and civil health care fraud enforcement matters has led to groundbreaking and historic enforcement success and industrywide changes. The Office has cracked down on fraud committed by pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers as well as unethical doctors and corporate executives who put greed ahead of patient safety and steal from government programs. The Strike Force model will act as a force multiplier, increasing resources and promoting even greater successes.”
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division added: “Healthcare fraud costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year, whether it is through the unlawful diversion of federal program funds or powerful prescription drugs. That is why the FBI is working day in and day out to root out those who place a greater value on profits than they do on the well-being of patients. We welcome the expansion of the New England Strike Force to Massachusetts as we continue to work with our partners to hold anyone fleecing the U.S. government accountable.”
Christian J. Schrank, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at HHS-OIG said: “The expansion of the New England Health Care Fraud Strike Force into Boston further strengthens our capacity to protect Medicare and Medicaid from criminal networks. As a national hub for health care innovation, Boston presents both extraordinary promise for HHS initiatives and increased exposure to sophisticated complex fraud schemes. This strategic expansion underscores our unwavering commitment to deploying investigative expertise where the stakes are highest, working in close collaboration with law enforcement partners to advance fraud detection, dismantle criminal schemes, and hold wrongdoers accountable.”
Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan from FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations noted: “Protecting the public from harm caused by criminal misconduct involving drugs and medical devices is a priority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The expansion of the Strike Force into Boston, a vital hub for life sciences, will enable more robust and coordinated efforts to dismantle criminal networks that introduce unlawful medical products into the market, ultimately protecting patient health and trust in our healthcare system.”
With this expansion effective immediately, coordination will occur between various agencies including FBI; HHS-OIG; FDA; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; state agencies such as Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; Insurance Fraud Bureau.
This strategic partnership builds upon recent Justice Department efforts such as June 2025’s largest-ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown announcement—part of an ongoing push toward corporate accountability with recent resolutions involving Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Troy Health Inc.
More information about these initiatives can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
