Washington, D.C. — An alleged “birth tourism” anchor baby scheme cost taxpayers over $2.1 million in fraudulent Medicaid benefits over four years.
According to the DOJ, six defendants were indicted on charges including wire fraud, health care fraud, and money laundering.
The scheme was run through advertisements on two Turkish Facebook pages. The defendants promised the pregnant Turkish women housing and transportation for $7,500, paid mostly in cash.
Advertisements for the scheme also claimed the $7,500 included “insurance” to cover delivery, pre-natal, and post-natal medical care. As it turns out, the “insurance” was actually fraudulently acquired Medicaid benefits.
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The conspirators allegedly instructed the women to hide their pregnancies. Once here, they were taken to one of seven “birth houses.”
The defendants in the case allegedly received $750,000 in fees from the women. A portion of this was sent to at least one bank account in Turkey.
“Using Internet ads, the defendants perpetrated an international fraud that relied upon a parade of women who paid them thousands of dollars in fees in order to enter the United States under false pretenses, to give birth here. The defendants cashed in on the desire for birthright citizenship, and the American taxpayer ultimately got stuck with the $2.1 million bill,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “The indictment unsealed today reinforces the principle that American citizenship is not for sale, and that our benefits programs are not piggy banks for criminals to plunder.”
Department of Justice Press Release, Eastern District of New York
The scheme allegedly resulted in over 100 babies being born in the U.S. with birthright citizenship. The Defendants face up to 20 years in prison if they are convicted.
More from America’s Citizen Press:
just an other scheme to take the real tax payers money, those who live in the USA, that support, encourage theses schemes do not pay taxes, or pay very little. This is just an other way of taking money from hard working Americans, while giving them the middle finger, more using and abusing the real citizens. We as tax payers are force by the liberals to support illegals now up to 60+ billion of our tax dollars a year or more, continuning the the the abuse of the real tax payer, more giving us the middle finger, and laughing about it, because we can not stop them. This will be increased with the liberal/socialist in charge while their base pays little or no taxes, when is enough, enough. The election plan to steal this presidential election will ensure that the liberal/socialist have a free hand to take more of the real tax payers money, they are giddy with joy knowing that they have by fraud taken this election, and “We the people … are unable to stop them. So now what?