Houston woman added to FBI's most wanted fraudster list, accused of nearly $100 million in healthcare fraud, bureau officials say
Agents accuse her of committing $100 million in fraud through a kickback scheme.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- FBI officials announced on Tuesday that a woman from Houston, accused of nearly $100 million in healthcare fraud, has been added to their Most Wanted Fraudster list.
According to the FBI Houston office, Emylee Thai is accused of committing millions of dollars in fraud through a medically unnecessary genetic testing and kickback scheme.
Officials said that on July 11, 2022, Thai was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and payment of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program.
The indictment alleges that beginning in 2019, Thai, who was a laboratory owner, contracted with marketers to refer signed doctors’ orders and beneficiary DNA samples to the laboratory in exchange for a percentage of the reimbursements, according to the FBI.
The genetic testing, for which Medicare often paid several thousand dollars per beneficiary, was not medically necessary, officials said, adding that there were often not used in the beneficiary's medical treatment.
Thai's laboratory billed Medicare approximately $142 million for genetic testing around this time, FBI officials said, and was paid approximately $95 million on those claims.
Authorities said after her arrest, Thai was granted bail with several conditions, including wearing a location monitoring device. On Dec. 8, 2022, Thai’s location monitor was removed, officials said, with her last known location being Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The next day, after several attempts to contact and locate Thai, officials said they issued a warrant for her arrest.
Investigators said that they determined that Thai was able to flee the United States through a private airplane and a fake identity. FBI Houston officials said that Thai is likely in Vietnam.
On July 5, 2023, Thai was separately charged with destruction and alteration of records in a federal investigation, officials said.
The FBI Houston office said that there is a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Thai's arrest, advising people to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with tips.
