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Minnesota fraud mastermind to face sentencing for $250 million scheme
Emily Compagno and the panelists of ‘Outnumbered’ recently delved into the Minnesota COVID fraud case involving Aimee Bock, who awaits sentencing for orchestrating a $250 million scheme. The conversation also touched on state officials’ alleged prior knowledge and their reluctance to cooperate with federal probes, sparking demands for accountability from prominent figures such as Kayleigh McEnany and JD Vance.
EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: A physician from California stands convicted after a federal jury found her guilty of filing over $45 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for Botox treatments. The scheme was reportedly designed to bankroll an extravagant lifestyle, complete with opulent vacations and the acquisition of a $12,000 17th-century crossbow, according to an announcement by the Justice Department.
Violetta Mailyan, aged 45 and residing in Glendale, was found guilty on nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of obstructing a criminal investigation related to healthcare offenses.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Section’s Data Analytics Team identified Mailyan’s clinic in a Los Angeles suburb as suspicious. Their analysis revealed that she received higher payments from Medicare for Botox injections than any other doctor nationwide, marking her as an anomaly among healthcare providers, as stated by prosecutors.
During this period, Mailyan received more than $24 million over four years—an amount six times greater than that received by the next highest group, comprised of neurologists.
“Violetta Mailyan falsely diagnosed patients, fraudulently billed Medicare for Botox injections while she was actually on lavish vacations, and tried to trick federal agents with fake records,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division’s data-driven approach shines a light on fraud schemes across the country, ensuring that no doctor can engage in these brazen schemes to steal taxpayer dollars.”
Violetta Mailyan, who owned and operated Healthy Way Medical Center in California, received millions of dollars as part of a Botox fraud scheme, authorities said. (Instagram/ dr_violetta_mailyan)
In addition to scheming to defraud Medicare, Mailyan altered medical records in an attempt to mislead investigators, authorities said. She owned and operated the Healthy Way Medical Center, which billed Medicare for Botox injections that were medically unnecessary and never actually provided.
This included billing for injections on dates when Mailyan was traveling to Cabo, Mexico; Maui, Hawaii; Las Vegas; Pennsylvania; and New York.
Furthermore, some of the injections allegedly took place on dates when the clinic was closed, or when the patient who supposedly received the treatment was actually incarcerated in federal prison.
Dr. Violetta Mailyan allegedly submitted more than $45 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for Botox injections. (Instagram/ dr_violetta_mailyan)
Typically, Medicare reimburses medical providers for Botox injections only when they are deemed necessary to treat documented cases of chronic migraines. However, Mailyan billed and received payments for thousands of injections that were either never provided, administered solely for cosmetic purposes, or given to patients whose primary care physicians had not referred them for chronic migraine treatment.
On her social media accounts, Mailyan even described herself as a “BOTOX FILLER NONSURGICAL NOSE COSMETIC DOCTOR.”
Prosecutors said that in an effort to conceal the fraud, she fabricated patient medical records—including patient consent forms—to make it appear as if patients received migraine treatments in her office. She was accused of backdating some claims to bill for injections before the patients had even contacted her clinic to request an appointment.
An image of a Florentine Mannerist crossbow and a portrait of Ludwig I, the crown prince of Bavaria, which were both purchased by Violetta Mailyan by money from her alleged Medicare scheme. (Justice Department)
Mailyan used millions of dollars she received from the fraud to fund lavish vacations and purchase luxury collectible goods, including a $3,000 painting of Ludwig 1, crown prince of Bavaria, and the $12,000 17th-century crossbow, prosecutors said.
Following her conviction, the jury also found that a Tesla Model X, a Tesla Cybertruck, funds in multiple bank accounts, and four properties in Surfside and Glendale, California, were proceeds of the fraud and subject to forfeiture.
Dr. Violetta Mailyan was charged with nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of obstructing a criminal investigation after she allegedly conducted a Medicare Botox fraud scheme. (Instagram/ dr_violetta_mailyan)
Mailyan faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and five years in prison for each count of obstruction. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mailyan’s legal team for comment.
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