15 Charged in $50 Million Hospice and Health Care Fraud Scheme in Southern California

Authorities carried out raids and arrests across the region as part of 'Operation Never Say Die'

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:11pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a stack of medical bills and paperwork, lit by a harsh, direct flash against a dark background, conceptually representing the investigative nature of uncovering healthcare fraud.A crackdown on hospice and healthcare fraud in Southern California exposes the scope of financial abuse targeting public programs.Los Angeles Today

Federal authorities have charged 15 individuals, including nurses, psychologists, and business owners, for their alleged involvement in a sprawling $50 million hospice and health care fraud scheme in Southern California. The suspects are accused of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and union health plans for services that were unnecessary or never provided.

Why it matters

Hospice fraud has become a major problem in California, with the state instituting a moratorium on new hospice licenses and revoking over 280 licenses since an audit. This crackdown, known as 'Operation Never Say Die,' is the latest effort to combat the issue and recover funds stolen from public healthcare programs.

The details

The suspects are accused of a variety of fraudulent tactics, including billing for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill, forging physician signatures, and using the names of barred providers to bypass detection. Some allegedly used the fraudulent hospice billings to cover personal expenses like mortgages, car payments, and international travel.

  • The investigation began in 2022 but did not progress under the prior administration.
  • Authorities carried out the raids and arrests this week as part of 'Operation Never Say Die'.
  • CMS has revoked approvals for 220 hospices in California in the last 10 weeks.

The players

Lolita Beronilla Minerd

A 55-year-old nurse from Anaheim accused of submitting over $9.1 million in fraudulent hospice claims and paying kickbacks to beneficiaries.

Gladwin Gill

A 66-year-old psychologist from Covina who, along with his wife Amelou Gill, allegedly received over $4 million through fraudulent hospice claims.

Nita Almuete Paddit Palma

A 76-year-old woman from Glendale who allegedly billed Medicare for at least $4.8 million in fraudulent hospice claims while operating multiple facilities under her husband's name.

Evelyn Tindimobuna

A 51-year-old nurse from Chatsworth accused of collecting $3.8 million from Medicare and paying kickbacks to marketers who referred hospice patients.

Ivan Verne Lauritzen

A 50-year-old man from Simi Valley accused of fraudulently billing over $580,000 to Medicare through his hospice, Valley Pacific Hospice, which had its enrollment revoked in 2024.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Southern California region is a high-risk environment for hospice-related and many other forms of health care fraud. The United States loses hundreds of billions of dollars annually to healthcare fraud at the expense of all American taxpayers, whose benefits decrease as premiums, co-payments and taxes grow. Our aim is to reverse that trend with 'Operation Never Say Die' and others like it.”

— Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Los Angeles Field Office

“California takes fraud extremely seriously and has zero tolerance for the abuse of public programs — especially those as sensitive as end-of-life care. That's why I advanced a moratorium on new hospice licenses four years ago and established the California Hospice Fraud Task Force. Through this coordinated effort, the state has been investigating and prosecuting fraudsters for years.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

What’s next

The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has announced plans to investigate the issue of hospice fraud in California, indicating that the crackdown on these schemes is likely to continue.

The takeaway

This case highlights the widespread problem of hospice and healthcare fraud in California, which has led state and federal authorities to take aggressive action to root out abuse of public programs. The charges demonstrate the need for stronger oversight and accountability in the hospice industry to protect vulnerable patients and taxpayer funds.