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LEGAL NEWSLINE

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Orange County transportation company owners convicted in $2.1 million Medicaid fraud case

State AG
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Attorney General Letitia James | Official website

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that the owners of DYD Universe, Inc., a Medicaid-enrolled transportation company, have pleaded guilty to charges related to a scheme defrauding Medicaid of over $2.1 million. Damir Yuldashev, his son Daler Yuldashev, and Nigina Iskandarova admitted to submitting false claims for non-existent services and tolls from April 2018 to March 2023. The trio also paid illegal kickbacks to Medicaid recipients in exchange for their confidential information.

Attorney General James emphasized the severity of the crime: "Stealing taxpayer funds that are meant to provide health care for low-income New Yorkers is unacceptable." She highlighted how the defendants exploited vulnerable individuals rather than providing necessary transportation services.

The fraudulent activities involved billing Medicaid for fictitious trips and adding fake tolls. These false claims resulted in overcharges exceeding $2.1 million. The defendants also incentivized recipients with payments to use fake addresses or drive themselves, facilitating inflated or entirely false claims.

In court, Damir Yuldashev pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, while Daler Yuldashev admitted to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. Nigina Iskandarova was charged under New York’s anti-kickback statute. All three will face various sentences including prison time for Damir Yuldashev and probation for the others.

The Office of the Attorney General received assistance from multiple agencies during this investigation. Detectives Peter Olsen and Frank Bluszcz led the investigative efforts with financial analysis support from Principal Auditor-Investigators John Annunziata and others.

Special Assistant Attorneys General Eva Urrutia and Robert Trudell handled legal proceedings alongside MFCU Pearl River Regional Office Director Todd Pettigrew. The Division of Criminal Justice under Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado provided oversight.

The public is encouraged to report any instances of Medicaid provider fraud or abuse via a confidential hotline managed by MFCU, which has a total funding of $70,502,916 for fiscal year 2025 through federal grants and state funding.

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