A Russian citizen has been charged in the United States for allegedly laundering more than $1.2 million linked to over $400 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on March 5, 2026.
The accused, Nikolai Buzolin, 38, of Tyumen, Russia, made his initial court appearance in Houston, Texas, where prosecutors allege he helped move and conceal proceeds from a large healthcare fraud scheme targeting Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs).
According to court documents, Buzolin established Verisola Inc. in Houston in July 2025, registering the company as a durable medical equipment supplier.
Authorities say that between August 2025 and January 2026, the company submitted more than $400 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage plans for medical equipment such as:
Orthotic braces
Glucose monitors
Investigators allege that the equipment billed in these claims was never actually provided to patients.
Despite the fraudulent nature of the claims, Medicare Advantage Organizations paid approximately $1.7 million, which was deposited into bank accounts connected to the company.
Federal investigators allege that Buzolin created an elaborate banking structure to move the money.
Within nine days between July and August 2025, he allegedly opened six bank accounts at six different financial institutions under the name of Verisola.
Authorities say he later opened two additional bank accounts in September and October 2025.
According to prosecutors, Buzolin submitted false information and documentation to banks, claiming he was the sole owner or president of Verisola even though he did not actually own or control the company.
Investigators allege that he then moved fraud proceeds across multiple bank accounts without legitimate business purposes, ultimately transferring at least $1.2 million to overseas bank accounts and entities.
According to the indictment, after the alleged scheme stopped operating, Buzolin traveled from Houston to Los Angeles.
Authorities say he purchased a same day one way airline ticket to Moscow, Russia.
Before he could board the flight, FBI agents arrested him at the airport.
He remains in custody pending trial.
Buzolin has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege he conducted financial transactions designed to conceal the origin, ownership and control of fraud proceeds and carried out transactions exceeding $10,000 using illicit funds.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case was announced by several senior law enforcement officials including:
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas
Scott J. Lampert, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General
Jason M. Hudson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Houston Field Office
William Marlowe, Chief of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Amanda Crawford, Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance
The investigation is being conducted by:
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Texas Department of Insurance
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Andrew Tamayo and Emily Reeder Ricchetti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Fraud Section.
Officials also noted that the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, launched in March 2007, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who have collectively billed over $45 billion in fraudulent claims to federal healthcare programs and private insurers.
The Department of Justice emphasized that the charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
