Verified source report
Three Members of International Criminal Organization Sentenced to Lengthy Sentences in $2 Billion Telemedicine Healthcare Fraud Scheme
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Anthony Santamaria was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 10 years in prison for his participation in an approximately $2 billion international health care fraud conspiracy. Santamaria is the third member of a Moscow-based criminal organization sentenced this month in connection with the scheme. Co-defendants Hershel Tsikman and Hafizullah Ebady were sentenced earlier this month to 120 months’ and 97 months’ imprisonment, respectively. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Kuntz ordered Santamaria to forfeit $3.2 million and Ebady to forfeit more than $1.8 million. Additionally, all three defendants were ordered to pay restitution to their victims in an amount to be determined at a later date. A fourth defendant, Dela Saidazim, was sentenced to time served in December 2022. Three additional co-defendants
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What happened
According to U.S. Department of Justice’s source item, Three Members of International Criminal Organization Sentenced to Lengthy Sentences in $2 Billion Telemedicine Healthcare Fraud Scheme, Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Anthony Santamaria was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 10 years in prison for his participation in an approximately $2 billion international health care fraud conspiracy. Santamaria is the third member of a Moscow-based criminal organization sentenced this month in connection with the scheme. Co-defendants Hershel Tsikman and Hafizullah Ebady were sentenced earlier this month to 120 months’ and 97 months’ imprisonment, respectively. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Kuntz ordered Santamaria to forfeit $3.2 million and Ebady to forfeit more than $1.8 million. Additionally, all three defendants were ordered to pay restitution to their victims in an amount to be determined at a later date. A fourth defendant, Dela Saidazim, was sentenced to time served in December 2022. Three additional co-defendants
Context
The development sits in VINI’s Science file for readers following research, health, climate, space, medicine, and scientific institutions. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-05-19T12:00:00+00:00.
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Source
Primary source: Three Members of International Criminal Organization Sentenced to Lengthy Sentences in $2 Billion Telemedicine Healthcare Fraud Scheme via U.S. Department of Justice. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.
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Source links
- Three Members of International Criminal Organization Sentenced to Lengthy Sentences in $2 Billion Telemedicine Healthcare Fraud SchemeU.S. Department of Justice - 2026-05-19T12:00:00+00:00
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