David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that HABROON HABIB, 30, a citizen of Pakistan and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. residing in Middletown, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to operating an unlawful money transmitting business.According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2025, Habib registered “Around The World Solutions LLC” with the State of Connecticut and rented shared commercial office space at 386 Main Street in Middletown.
In February 2025, Habib opened a bank account for Around The World. Shortly thereafter, Around The World Solutions began to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage (also known as “Medicare Part C”) plans in Connecticut for durable medical equipment, including orthotics and braces, that Medicare beneficiaries did not ask for, consent to, or receive. The claims were submitted by an individual in Pakistan.Between March 12, 2025, and May 14, 2025, a total of approximately $680,571.28 in payments from Medicare Advantage plans operated by private insurers were deposited into Around The World Solutions’ bank account, based on fraudulent claims for orthotics purportedly provided to approximately 413 Medicare beneficiaries residing in 36 states. None of the Medicare beneficiaries resided in Connecticut.
Payments for some of the claims were stopped by the Medicare Advantage programs when they discovered the fraud. The total amount of fraudulent claims Around The World Solutions submitted to Medicare Advantage plans was approximately $1,901,200.Habib sent a total of 14 wire transfers totaling $425,000 from the Around the World Solutions bank account to bank accounts located in Pakistan. At no time were Habib or Around The World Solutions licensed by the Connecticut Department of Banking to engage in the business of money transmission in Connecticut. Under Connecticut state law, knowingly engaging in the business of money transmission in the State of Connecticut without obtaining a license is a class D felony, and engaging in unlicensed money transmitting without a state license is a violation of federal law.Habib was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 24, 2025, shortly after federal investigators learned that he was scheduled to fly, using a one-way ticket, from JFK Airport to Pakistan the following day.Habib is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S.
District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on September 8, at which time Habib faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon.This announcement is part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death.Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Justice Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme.The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.