Canton Man Charged in National Health Care Fraud Takedown

BOSTON – Today, as part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a Canton, Mass. man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged fraud scheme to defraud Medicare of over $4 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries, and  tainted by kickbacks.

Krishna Gidwani, 55, of Canton, Mass., was charged by an Information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The Court has scheduled a plea hearing for July 30, 2025.  

According to the charging documents, Gidwani allegedly worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and, as further alleged in the information, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME. In May 2025, Sharma, agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud conspiracy for his alleged role in the scheme. His plea hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2025.

The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

“Mr. Gidwani is accused of manipulating Medicare to enrich himself – misusing the names of unwitting doctors to push unwanted and unnecessary medical equipment onto elderly patients. Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. It drives up costs, exploits vulnerable patients and undermines public trust in our medical system,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s charges are part of a historic, nationwide effort to hold accountable those who abuse federal health care programs for personal gain. Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud and ensure that Medicare dollars support genuine patient care, not criminal profit.”

“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,” said Attorney General Pamela 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.”

“The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting. Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable,” said HHS-OIG Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins. “Our agents at HHS-OIG work relentlessly to detect, investigate, and dismantle these fraud schemes. We are proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding patient care.”

“Health care fraud affects everyone. Not only does it put a strain on our country’s vital health care system, but it costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “FBI Boston will continue to work with our law enforcement and private sector partners to identify and investigate individuals like Krishna Gidwani who are accused of submitting claims that are medically unnecessary and tainted by kickbacks.”

U.S. Attorney Foley; AG Bondi; HHS-OIG Acting IG Hodgkins; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Sarah B. Hoefle of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

Today’s announcement is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.

The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Columbia, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle, District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Middle, District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Maine, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nevada, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, District of North Dakota, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of South Carolina, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Washington, and Northern District of West Virginia; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are prosecuting the cases in the National Health Care Fraud Takedown, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.