OC Man pleads guilty in $270M Medi-Cal fraud scheme

Randall exploited suspension of prior authorization requirement to bill Medi-Cal for unnecessary, undelivered drugs

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:38pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of prescription pill bottles against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating a health care fraud investigation.A recent $270 million Medi-Cal fraud scheme exposed vulnerabilities in California's public health insurance program that fraudsters exploited to bill for unnecessary and undelivered medications.Orange Today

A 66-year-old Orange County man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in a $270 million health care fraud scheme that exploited a temporary suspension of Medi-Cal's prior authorization requirement to bill for expensive, unnecessary prescription drugs that were often not even provided to patients.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing problem of health care fraud, which costs taxpayers billions each year and undermines the integrity of public insurance programs like Medi-Cal. It also shows how fraudsters can take advantage of policy changes intended to improve access to care.

The details

Paul Randall, along with two associates, took advantage of Medi-Cal's suspension of its prior authorization requirement for certain medications during a transition to a new payment system. Through their business Monte Vista Pharmacy, they billed Medi-Cal tens of millions per month for high-reimbursement, non-contracted generic drugs that were medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed, and sometimes just over-the-counter vitamins.

  • Randall pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026.
  • The fraud scheme ran from May 2022 to April 2023, during which time Monte Vista Pharmacy billed Medi-Cal over $269 million and was paid more than $178 million.

The players

Paul Randall

A 66-year-old Orange County man who pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the $270 million Medi-Cal fraud scheme.

Kyrollos Mekail

A 37-year-old Moreno Valley man who was also involved in the fraud scheme and pleaded guilty to criminal charges in August 2024.

Patricia Anderson

A 58-year-old West Hills woman who was charged last year with health care fraud for her role in the scheme.

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What’s next

Randall is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2026. Mekail is awaiting sentencing for his guilty plea, and Anderson was also charged for her role in the scheme.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the need for robust oversight and controls in public health insurance programs to prevent fraudsters from exploiting policy changes and billing for unnecessary or undelivered services. It also highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute complex health care fraud schemes.