CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — March 2026
A Russian national has made his initial court appearance in Houston on charges of laundering more than $1.2 million tied to a Medicare Advantage fraud scheme.
Nikolai Buzolin, 38, formerly of Houston and originally from Tyumen, Russia, allegedly founded Verisola, Inc., a sham durable medical equipment company, in Houston in July 2025. The company is accused of submitting over $400 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) for items such as orthotic braces and glucose monitors that were never provided to patients.
Over a nine-day period from July through August 2025, Buzolin allegedly opened six bank accounts under Verisola’s name at different financial institutions, adding two more accounts in September and October 2025. He reportedly submitted false documentation listing himself as the sole owner, member, or president, though he had no true ownership or control of the company.
From August 2025 through January 2026, the MAOs reimbursed Verisola at least $1.7 million, which was deposited into the Verisola accounts. Buzolin allegedly moved these funds between accounts without legitimate business purposes and wired at least $1.2 million to overseas entities and bank accounts.
After the fraudulent billing scheme ended, Buzolin attempted to flee Houston for Moscow, Russia, purchasing a same-day one-way airline ticket from Los Angeles. The FBI arrested him before he could board the flight, and he remains detained pending trial.
Buzolin is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering for concealing the nature, source, and ownership of fraud proceeds and for engaging in financial transactions exceeding $10,000 involving unlawful proceeds. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The investigation involves HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Texas Department of Insurance, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Andrew Tamayo and Emily Reeder-Ricchetti of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
