Brothers Bhaskar, Niranjan, and Arun Sabani, along with several associates, were found guilty in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of severe medical malpractice, extortion, and various forms of fraud, including Medicaid fraud and immigration fraud.
This verdict wraps up a lengthy fraud investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania into the Sabani Group of Dental Facilities, an operation that reached across several states.
According to prosecutors, these dental providers deceived both patients and the government, raking in millions through a systematic scheme that involved federal health programs, fraudulent immigration applications, and a complicated money-tracking system designed to conceal improperly obtained government funds.
The Sabani brothers, along with their associates—Aleksandra Radmiak, Sunil Philip, Armen Dhillon, Vivek Sabani, John Julian, and five others—were indicted in January 2023 for various fraud-related charges, conspiracies, Medicaid billing fraud, and health care fraud.
Prosecutors revealed that the Sabani Group manipulated its network to frequently change the names of its clinics and offices to mask fraudulent claims and operations.
This maneuver allowed the company to alter patient records across multiple clinics while continuously billing government health programs.
“As shown in the trial, brothers Bhaskar and Arun Sabani set up an intricate criminal enterprise (the ‘Sabani Group’) that accumulated millions through various deceitful schemes. Bhaskar Sabani, a trained dentist, along with Arun, who largely handled the group’s finances, orchestrated a long-term plan to enrich themselves through criminal means,” stated the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“This comprehensive investigation tackled a complicated web of fraudulent billing and sham medical providers,” commented U.S. Attorney David Metcalfe. “Our team collaborated with numerous state and federal partners to unravel and substantiate the various health care fraud schemes central to this operation. We’re pleased to have brought down this fraudulent setup and hold those accountable. Fraud and abuse drain American taxpayers of billions every year, depriving our health care system of essential resources.”
The case also highlighted the illegal sale of experimental dental tools, some of which were mislabelled, especially implants marked as “not for human use” but then inserted in patients.
Additionally, the Sabanis faced charges related to immigration violations for filing false H-1B visa applications to recruit low-paid workers from India, circumventing American professional dentists who might have halted the fraud earlier.
“Visa fraud undermines the integrity of our legal immigration system, often victimizing those genuinely seeking opportunities in the U.S.,” remarked Anthony Tortola, Resident Agent in Charge of DSS Philadelphia. “The Diplomatic Security Service investigates these schemes and is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the visa process. This conviction sends a clear warning that such fraud will not be overlooked.”
