Panamanian doctor charged in VA fraud scheme

The U.S. Department of Justice said a Panamanian doctor has pleaded guilty to a widespread fraud scheme involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Officials said Dr. Rolando Chin, a surgeon in Panama, was one of several people involved in submitting false and inflated claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP), which provides medical care for U.S. veterans living abroad. An investigation by the DOJ, the U.S. Department of State and the VA found various medical doctors and pharmacies in Panama were making claims to the program, including claims for services that had never been provided and for medicines patients had never received.

“The Department is committed to combating fraud against the United States wherever such conduct occurs,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the DOJ’s Civil Division, said. “Our efforts in this case have not only recovered funds on behalf of the American taxpayers but have also prevented significant future losses. We are grateful to our Panamanian colleagues for their ongoing cooperation and collaboration in this matter.”

Officials estimated the move would save taxpayers $25 million going forward.

The actions stem from a case that started in December 2022. In that case, the DOJ filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry of Panama again nearly 40 doctors, pharmacies, corporations and a hospital, for aggravated fraud and money laundering. Panamanian prosecutors investigated and brought the first charges in the case in August 2023. Earlier this year, the Panamanian prosecutors obtained the guilty plea from Chin. That case will lead to a restitution agreement with the United States, while the Panamanian government will continue pursuing other indicted individuals.