Two residents from the Los Angeles area, Sophia Shaklian, 36, and Alex Alexsanian, 47, were arrested on Wednesday following a 24-count federal grand jury indictment. They are accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare out of over $54 million for hospice and diagnostic services that were never rendered.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the duo allegedly laundered their fraudulent proceeds by purchasing millions of dollars in gold bars and coins.
Shaklian, who resides in the Larchmont area of Los Angeles, is charged with four counts of transactional money laundering and 16 counts of health care fraud. Alexsanian, from Burbank, faces one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and three counts of concealment money laundering.
The indictment reveals that Shaklian, often using aliases, managed claims for seven health care providers enrolled with Medicare in Los Angeles County. These included her hospice company, Chateau d’Lumina Hospice and Palliative Care, and several diagnostic testing companies, such as Saint Gorge Radiology and Hope Diagnostics.
Between March 2019 and August 2024, these businesses allegedly submitted over $54 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for unnecessary and nonexistent services. Prosecutors indicated that Shaklian and Alexsanian received more than $23 million from these fraudulent claims.
If convicted, Shaklian could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of health care fraud and up to 20 years for each money laundering count. Alexsanian could also face up to 20 years in prison for each of his money laundering charges.
The case is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.
