A California hospice owner and his biller have been sentenced to jail time for defrauding Medicare of over $9 million through false and fraudulent claims for hospice services.
Gayk Akhsharumov, 40, from Glendale, and Karen Sarkisyan, 45, also from Glendale, have been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme. Akhsharumov, who owned two hospice companies, and Sarkisyan, also known as Kevin Sarkisyan, worked together as consultant and owner, respectively.
Akhsharumov, identified as the manager and beneficial owner of San Gabriel Hospice and Palliative Care Inc. as well as Broadway Hospice Care, allegedly concealed his ownership from Medicare and engaged in deceptive practices. He reportedly installed false owners and provided kickbacks to patient recruiters. Sarkisyan, on the other hand, is said to have been involved in submitting fraudulent applications.
Akhsharumov admitted his guilt in conspiring to commit healthcare fraud on March 23, 2023, while Sarkisyan pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States on April 3, 2023.
According to authorities, despite shutting down one of his facilities, Akhsharumov proceeded to apply for COVID-19 relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program and was granted $50,000. Prosecutors revealed that Akhsharumov received the funds even though the hospice was not operational.
Akhsharumov has been ordered to pay $9.18 million in restitution, while Sarkisyan has been instructed to repay $3.68 million in restitution.