Ohio Dentist Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Resolve Allegations of Submitting False Claims to Medicaid

CLEVELAND - Today, United States Attorney David M. Toepfer announced that a Cuyahoga County dentist has agreed to settle allegations that he submitted claims to Medicaid for services that were ineligible for reimbursement. Medicaid is a federal health program that provides benefits to mainly low-income individuals who qualify and is administered through the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM). This settlement is part of the Department of Justice's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

"Providers who submit claims for payment from federal healthcare programs have a responsibility to verify that those claims are legitimate. It is our duty to ensure that each taxpayer dollar is spent wisely," said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. "Therefore, if we suspect fraud, we are obligated to earnestly investigate such matters and hold people accountable for their actions. I'd like to especially thank the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for partnering with us in this investigation."

"Medicaid fraud steals from taxpayers and vulnerable Ohioans. If you try to cheat this program, you will be held accountable," said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.

The settlement announced today by U.S. Attorney Toepfer is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today's Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor's offices to corporate boardrooms.

Today's coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
• 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
• 928 administrative cases by the DEA seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since Oct. 1, 2025.

In the Northern District of Ohio, Stanley Meckler, DDS, 72, of Pepper Pike, agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act (FCA). The FCA imposes liability for claims submitted to the federal government that are false. The settlement agreement follows an investigation by federal, state, and local partners into John W. Ball, DDS, 68, who was employed by Meckler's dental practice, Family Dental Care, in Parma. Investigators learned that during the relevant time frame, Ball was excluded from participating in the Medicaid program for defaulting on a federal loan. However, during the time he was excluded, Meckler was billing ODM for services provided by Ball by listing Meckler as the rendering provider instead of Ball. In 2021, Meckler sold the practice and the new owner discovered that Ball was excluded from being a Medicaid provider.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of coordinated efforts between the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI Cleveland Division. The USAO would like to acknowledge the Ohio Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for their valuable assistance with this investigation. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Deucher for the Northern District of Ohio.

Other cases nationally are being prosecuted by:

• The Health Care Fraud Unit's National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces.
• U.S. Attorneys' Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin.
• State Attorneys General's Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.

About the National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at https://www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).