Criminal Investigative Updates

Alexis Beatles, of Hinesville, Georgia, was convicted on charges of Interstate Communications with Threats to Injure Another. On December 18, 2024, Beatles called a VA hotline and made demands to the phone operator and threatened to kill federal employees and others if his demands were not met. He made numerous threats, including threatening to crash his car into the Savannah VA Clinic, to “destroy” US citizens, to rig his home with explosives to kill any police officers that came to his house, and to kill the children of any officers who attempted to arrest him. The VA OIG, FBI, and Savannah Police Department investigated this case.

Claribel Tan, and her husband, Daniel Tan, owners of a medical clinic in Anchorage, Alaska, were indicted for healthcare fraud and tax evasion. The indictment alleges that from 2010 to 2023 the couple caused the submission of false claims that misrepresented medication type and dosage, and the scope of medical services provided to patients; deceived patients regarding the necessity of receiving medication and created false medical records; and deceived patients regarding what substances Claribel Tan injected into their bodies. In total, the Tans received over $10 million in fraudulently obtained funds. This case was investigated by the VA OIG, IRS, Department of Defense, FBI, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Department of Labor, Food and Drug Administration, and State of Alaska Division of Insurance Investigation Unit.

Dr. Claribel Tan, and her husband, Daniel Tan, pleaded guilty to executing a $12.5 million healthcare fraud scheme and evading more than $4 million in taxes on the profits of a decades-long scheme. The Tans operated a rheumatology medical clinic in Anchorage and specialized in the treatment of autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases. Beginning in 2009, Dr. Tan routinely and surreptitiously underdosed patients, injected them with free samples or a different medication than prescribed, injected them with expired medication, and/or injected them with medications purchased by other patients. The Tans then knowingly billed insurance plans as if Dr. Tan had provided each patient a full and proper injection. This case was investigated by the VA OIG, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, IRS, FBI, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and State of Alaska Division of Insurance Investigation Unit.

Wigenie Francois, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan. In April 2021, Francois submitted a loan application, falsely claiming gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship. The loan application was approved for $20,833 and Francois used the money on personal expenses. In March 2024, Francois submitted a loan forgiveness application that falsely claimed the entire loan amount was spent on payroll for the sole proprietorship. Based on the misrepresentation, the entire loan was forgiven. The matter was referred to VA for possible administrative action against Francois. The VA OIG investigated this case.