Two Pakistani nationals have been charged in Chicago with defrauding the U.S. Medicare system of approximately $10 million, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday. Burhan Mirza and Kashif Iqbal allegedly submitted false claims for purported medical services that were never rendered.
The indictment details a scheme where Mirza, residing in Pakistan, and Iqbal, based in Texas, conspired to create and operate fraudulent medical practices. They then submitted claims to Medicare for services that were not provided, effectively diverting funds from the federal healthcare program. The alleged fraud occurred between 2023 and 2024.
Federal authorities allege that the operation involved creating the illusion of legitimate healthcare businesses, despite a lack of actual medical equipment or functioning offices. A report from the Times of India highlighted that investigators found “empty offices, no hospital equipment” connected to the scheme. The fraudulent claims were submitted under the guise of providing a range of healthcare services.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago is prosecuting the case, with the investigation conducted by multiple federal agencies. According to the Express Tribune, the U.S. Has formally charged the two Pakistani men for their alleged involvement in the $10 million healthcare fraud scheme. The charges were filed in federal court in Chicago.
The scheme reportedly involved submitting claims for services to Medicare, the U.S. Federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, and certain younger people with disabilities. The indictment does not specify the exact nature of the false claims, but indicates they related to healthcare services.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet commented on whether additional individuals may be implicated in the alleged fraud. No court date has been set for Mirza and Iqbal as of Friday, February 13, 2026.
