October 22, 10

NEWS / Second FBI Fugitive Wanted on Federal RICO and Health Care Charges Surrenders

On October 13, 2010 FBI agents from New York and Los Angeles, along with the NYPD, ICE, and HHS OIG, carried out arrests in a multi-defendant RICO and health care fraud investigation being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. The case consists of two separate indictments against 44 alleged members and associates of an Armenian-American organized crime enterprise for a range of offenses including the operation of at least 118 medical clinics located in 25 states and submitting over $100 million in bogus claims to Medicare. This is the largest single Medicare fraud ever charged by the Department of Justice.

Following the arrests, three subjects remained at large. Vagan Stepanian surrendered to the FBI in New York on October 15th. This morning, Gourgen Mirimanian turned himself into the FBI in Los Angeles. One subject, Gagik Kyurkchyan, remains a fugitive.

We started out with three fugitives, now we are down to one. Two came forward and turned themselves into authorities. Gagik Kyurkchyan still remains a fugitive. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is requested to contact the FBI or local law enforcement,” said Special Agent Richard Kolko.

http://newyork.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/nyfo102110.htm