Indian-origin brothers face 835-year jail term in US; had posed with Kash Patel

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Two Indian-origin brothers from Pennsylvania, who once posted photos of themselves with FBI Chief Kash Patel on social media, have been convicted for carrying out multiple fraud schemes. The prosecutors said Bhaskar and Arun Savani syphoned off millions of dollars from the US healthcare system and exploited immigrants.

While Bhaskar was sentenced to 420 years, Arun got a 415-year sentence. The pair now face a combined 835 years in prison. Along with the Savani brothers, their associate, Aleksandra Ola Radomik, has also been convicted for her role in the fraud case.

The Savani brothers had previously drawn attention for posting photographs with Kash Patel following the latter's appointment as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), a federal jury found Bhaskar Savani, aged 60, and his brother Arun Savani, aged 58, guilty of running a sprawling criminal enterprise known as the Savani Group. Savani is a dentist by training, said the DOJ.

According to authorities, the pair carried out fraud schemes targeting two US Federal Programmes, Medicaid, and the H-1B visa programme.

Several others — Niranjan Savani, Amen Dhillon, Sunil Phillip, and Susan Malpartida — were also convicted for their involvement with the Savani brothers, according to a report in local news outlet, the Daily Voice.

HOW THE SAVANI BROTHERS DEFRAUDED MEDICAID

According to prosecutors, the Savani brothers had over a decade built a network of companies and dental practices that generated millions of dollars through healthcare fraud, visa fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.

One of the central schemes involved defrauding the Medicaid programme. For context, Medicaid is a joint state and federal programme in the US that provides free or low-cost health coverage to low-income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

According to the DOJ press release, the group, using their network of dental practices, continued billing Medicaid through their nominee business owners, long after those practices had lost their eligibility to participate in the programme.

The brothers also submitted claims for procedures carried out by uncredited dentists and used another dentist's Provider Identity details on dates when that particular individual had travelled abroad. In total, investigators stated the scheme caused losses exceeding $30 million to Medicaid.

HOW SAVANI BROTHERS CHEATED H-1B PROGRAMME, LAUNDERED FRAUD MONEY

The Savani Group also carried out a visa fraud operation involving the H-1B visa program. Prosecutors said the brothers filed fraudulent visa applications to bring foreign workers (mostly from India) into the United States. Once employed, many of these workers were allegedly forced to return portions of their wages and pay additional fees back to the enterprise as a form of kickback.

Authorities also uncovered a complex money laundering operation that routed proceeds from the fraud through numerous bank accounts tied to shell companies before ultimately benefiting the brothers and their businesses.

In addition, prosecutors said the brothers committed tax and wire fraud by disguising personal expenses as business costs and failing to report large portions of income. These expenses included college tuition payments, property taxes, and home maintenance costs.

Another allegation presented at trial involved prototype dental implants labelled "Not For Human Use". Prosecutors said the devices had not been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, yet were implanted in patients without their knowledge or consent.

TWO BROTHERS FACE COMBINED SENTENCES OF MORE THAN 800 YEARS

Bhaskar Savani was convicted on multiple counts including racketeering conspiracy, visa fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, and conspiracy to violate federal drug and medical device laws. Arun Savani was convicted on similar charges tied to racketeering, visa fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and tax offences.

Their associate, Radomiak, was found guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and healthcare fraud.

Bhaskar and Arun now face potential maximum sentences of 420 years and 415 years in prison, respectively. Radomiak, meanwhile, faces up to 40 years behind bars.

Sentencing hearings are scheduled for July 2026 at a federal court in Pennsylvania.

- Ends

Published By:

Shounak Sanyal

Published On:

Mar 12, 2026 20:14 IST

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