Rebecca C. Lutzko, American lawyer | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Rebecca C. Lutzko, American lawyer | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Mohammed Ahmad, a 38-year-old physician from Avon, Ohio, has admitted to his involvement in a scheme involving durable medical equipment (DME) that resulted in improper Medicare billing. The fraudulent activity led to thousands of dollars being billed unnecessarily to the federal health care program primarily serving individuals aged 65 and older.
Court documents reveal that Ahmad has been licensed in Ohio since 2014 and worked as a contractor for Lifeline Recruiting Inc., based in Florida. His role involved providing telemedicine services. Lifeline acquired "leads" of Medicare beneficiaries and utilized call centers to identify those eligible for orthotic braces and other DME. Ahmad reviewed and signed pre-completed orders authorizing DME treatment without personally examining patients or conducting the necessary tests.
Between November 2018 and May 2019, Ahmad's signed orders resulted in about $267,402 worth of false claims submitted to Medicare, with approximately $126,643 paid out. On July 9, 2025, he pleaded guilty to making false statements related to health care matters concerning the telemedicine scheme. He could face up to five years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Sentencing is pending.
The FBI Cleveland Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Erica D. Barnhill handled prosecution duties for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case forms part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown—an extensive nationwide law enforcement action targeting health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended losses across multiple federal districts.
Alicia Hiller, owner of Lifeline Recruiting, also pleaded guilty earlier this year regarding her involvement in the scheme. Her sentencing is set for November 5, 2025.
To report any instances of health care fraud or abuse, individuals can contact authorities at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (8477).
Alerts Sign-up