California Woman Sentenced for Fraud

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that Arus Gyulbudakyan, age 32, of Woodland Hills, California, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment and eight months of home confinement following her conviction by guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and health care fraud.

According to the indictment, Gyulbudakyan participated in a conspiracy that involved the use of stolen patient and doctor identities to submit false bills to Medicare for services that were never rendered. Among other things, Gyulbudakyan attempted to convince a bank to unfreeze Medicare funds held in a fraudulent account and also arranged for payment of a post office box used in connection with the scheme. This case was part of a nationwide series of arrests and indictments involving organized groups who targeted Medicare.

“At a time when government funds, particularly federal health care money, is a precious commodity, this case sends the message that we will aggressively pursue those who blatantly steal money expressly designed to help the Medicare population,” Dettelbach said.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Collyer and Robert W. Kern.