Today, the Department of Justice announced a significant development in its ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud. Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl revealed that Isaac Osei Afoakwa, 55, from Bismarck, North Dakota, has been charged with several offenses related to an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare.
Afoakwa faces charges including false statements related to a health care benefit program, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting the preparation and presentation of a false tax return. According to the indictment, Afoakwa is accused of submitting $100,000 in fraudulent claims to North Dakota Medicaid through his company, Bismarck Transportation Services. He is also alleged to have unlawfully obtained over $1.6 million through a Paycheck Protection Program loan and eight Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
This case is part of the Department’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the seriousness of these actions by stating: “Today’s record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown sends a crystal-clear message to criminal actors… we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The coordinated nationwide enforcement action led to criminal charges against 324 defendants for their involvement in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes amounting to over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings. These activities allegedly involved more than 15.6 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances.
In connection with this operation, authorities seized assets worth over $245 million, including cash and luxury vehicles. The investigation in North Dakota was conducted alongside several law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the North Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Greenley from the District of North Dakota is leading the prosecution efforts against Afoakwa.
As per legal protocols, it should be noted that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Further materials regarding today’s announcement can be accessed on the Health Care Fraud Unit’s website.
