
Two Indian-origin brothers from Pennsylvania have been convicted in the United States for running an extensive fraud operation that prosecutors say siphoned off millions of dollars from government programmes and exploited immigrant workers. The case has drawn significant attention because the brothers had previously posted photographs with FBI Director Kash Patel on social media.
Bhaskar Savani and Arun Savani were found guilty by a federal jury of operating a large criminal enterprise that carried out healthcare fraud, visa fraud, money laundering and tax evasion over many years. According to US authorities, the scheme targeted federal healthcare programmes and abused the H-1B visa system.
The two brothers now face extraordinarily long prison terms. Bhaskar Savani faces a potential sentence of 420 years, while Arun Savani faces up to 415 years. Combined, the brothers face more than 800 years in prison.
Here is a closer look at the case and how the fraud schemes operated.
Who are the Savani brothers?
According to the US Department of Justice, Bhaskar Savani, aged 60, and his brother Arun Savani, aged 58, ran a criminal enterprise known as the Savani Group.
Savani is a dentist by training, the Justice Department said.
Prosecutors told the court that over more than a decade, the brothers built a network of companies and dental practices that generated millions of dollars through a series of illegal activities.
A federal jury ultimately found them guilty of multiple crimes including racketeering conspiracy, healthcare fraud, visa fraud, money laundering and tax offences.
Their associate Aleksandra Ola Radomik was also convicted for her role in the case.
Several other individuals were found guilty for their involvement with the group. According to a report by The Daily Voice, those convicted include Niranjan Savani, Amen Dhillon, Sunil Phillip and Susan Malpartida.
How the brothers defrauded Medicaid
One of the central schemes involved the US Medicaid programme.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state healthcare programme that provides medical coverage to low income individuals, families, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
Prosecutors said the Savani Group used its network of dental practices to illegally bill the programme.
According to the Department of Justice, the brothers continued submitting Medicaid claims through nominee business owners even after the practices had lost eligibility to participate in the programme.
Investigators also discovered that the group billed Medicaid for procedures carried out by dentists who were not authorised to provide the services.
In some cases, the scheme involved using another dentist’s National Provider Identity number on dates when that dentist had travelled outside the United States.
Authorities said the Medicaid fraud scheme caused losses exceeding 30 million dollars.
Fraud involving the H-1B visa programme
The Savani Group also ran a scheme involving the H-1B visa programme, which allows skilled foreign workers to work in the United States.
Prosecutors said the brothers filed fraudulent visa applications to bring foreign workers into the country. Many of these workers were reportedly recruited from India.
According to investigators, once employed in the United States, several of these workers were allegedly forced to return part of their salaries to the enterprise.
Authorities said some workers were also required to pay additional fees as kickbacks to the Savani organisation.
The scheme allowed the group to profit while exploiting immigrant workers who depended on their employment status to remain in the country.
Money laundering and tax fraud
Prosecutors said the brothers also operated a sophisticated money laundering network.
Fraud proceeds were routed through numerous bank accounts associated with shell companies before ultimately benefiting the Savani brothers and their businesses.
Authorities also accused the group of committing tax and wire fraud.
According to prosecutors, the brothers disguised personal expenses as business costs and failed to report large portions of their income.
These expenses included college tuition payments, property taxes and home maintenance costs.
Allegations involving experimental dental implants
Another disturbing allegation involved dental implants labelled “Not For Human Use.”
According to prosecutors, these prototype implants had not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Despite this, they were allegedly implanted in patients without their knowledge or consent.
Potential prison sentences exceeding 800 years
The charges against the Savani brothers cover a wide range of criminal offences.
Bhaskar Savani was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, visa fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and conspiracy to violate federal drug and medical device laws.
Arun Savani was convicted on similar charges related to racketeering, visa fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering and tax offences.
Their associate Radomik was convicted of racketeering, conspiracy and healthcare fraud.
Bhaskar Savani faces a potential maximum sentence of 420 years in prison, while Arun Savani faces up to 415 years.
Radomik faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years.
According to court records, sentencing hearings are scheduled for July 2026 in a federal court in Pennsylvania.
The case highlights one of the largest fraud prosecutions involving healthcare and immigration programmes in recent years, according to US prosecutors.
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