Dentist and Office Manager Convicted in Massive Medicare Fraud Scheme

Lourdes Navarro, a Glendale woman, has been found guilty of a $359 million fraud scheme targeting federal healthcare programs. Navarro and her accomplice, Imran Shams, fraudulently submitted claims for medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. They collected nasal swab samples from various locations and performed RPP tests instead of COVID-19 tests. Navarro submitted around $359 million in claims and received approximately $54 million in reimbursements. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2024.