National Health Care Fraud: Actions in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced civil settlements and criminal charges in West Virginia as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown Operation. U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey and West Virginia State Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
Civil Settlement Related to False Prescriptions
Harvey announced a civil settlement with two defendants regarding charges of conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. According to his statement, this settlement stemmed from the use of invalid pre-signed prescriptions by each defendant, issued outside of normal professional practice to their patients in West Virginia while they were traveling.
Defendants who reached the settlement include:
- Muhammad Salman, 64, from Bridgeport, agreed to pay $325,000 as a civil settlement to resolve allegations that he and his company, Bridgeport Pharmacy, violated the False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act.
- Jorge Roig, 58, from Weirton, agreed to pay $165,900 as a civil settlement to resolve allegations of violating the Controlled Substances Act.
This settlement is part of a strategically coordinated national law enforcement action that has resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their involvement in a health care fraud scheme and opioid abuse that involved over $6.5 billion in false claims and serious harm to patients, including deaths.
"Here in West Virginia and across the country, the evidence is clear: when health care providers prioritize convenience or profit over compliance with the law, the public pays the price. These cases highlight the critical importance of coordinated enforcement, between these offices, our federal partners, and the Office of the West Virginia Attorney General, to quickly identify violations and take decisive action," said Harvey.
"We are committed to pursuing any provider whose actions threaten patient safety or drain public health care programs. Today's actions demonstrate that we will not allow illegal prescription practices, irresponsible control of controlled substances, or fraudulent billing to go unchecked."
Criminal Charges Against a Married Couple
Capito announced criminal charges against Raymond C. Meadows II, 52, from Huntington, and his wife Helen Crutcher Meadows, 49, from Tampa, Florida. They were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud through their roles at Lifehouse Inc., a faith-based, non-profit substance abuse recovery program in Huntington.
Raymond, along with his wife and another individual, was charged with falsifying and submitting timesheets to laboratories for drug tests that were never actually performed. According to the statement, the scheme included Mrs. Meadows routinely billing for 32 hours more per week for months, as well as billing for time when she was out of the country.
"As alleged in the criminal complaint, these defendants saw the addiction crisis in West Virginia not as a tragedy, but as an opportunity," said Capito.
"While families were burying loved ones, communities were fighting to save lives, and taxpayers were funding efforts to combat substance abuse, they are charged with exploiting the system for personal gain. The damage caused by such actions goes beyond money; it robs communities of resources, undermines recovery efforts, and betrays public trust. We will continue to pursue fraudsters who profit from the suffering of others and ensure they are held fully accountable."
Additional Civil Settlement
Capito also announced a $120,000 civil settlement to resolve allegations involving claims submitted by West Virginia Sleep Centers LLC, a sleep laboratory in Beckley, to Medicaid and the Veterans Administration Community Health Program.
This action is part of the ongoing efforts by the DOJ and state attorney offices to combat fraud within the health care system and protect public funds and patient safety.
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*Original source: [wvmetronews.com](https://wvmetronews.com/2026/06/23/doj-health-care-fraud-takedown-includes-settlements-charges-in-west-virginia/)*