Federal authorities say New Jersey operators defrauding the government for healthcare services could be next
NEWARK, NJ — A bill for care that never happened. A transportation charge for a ride never provided. Public money collected for services that existed only on paper.
Those are the practices Homeland Security Investigations is warning about as its New Jersey office publicly emphasizes its work against fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs. Now, HSI’s New Jersey office is warning fraudsters in the Garden State that they’re investigating here too.
On Tuesday, federal and state law enforcement—led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI—conducted a sweeping crackdown, raiding over 100 social adult day care centers across New York City as part of a major Medicaid fraud and money-laundering investigation
More than 100 social adult day care and senior care providers across boroughs including Brooklyn (Borough Park, Sunset Park), Queens (Flushing), and Staten Island.
HSI warned that the operation is not over and New Jersey agents were actively involved in helping their New York City agents in both states.
HSI New York and the FBI worked alongside the New York State Department of Health, the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, HHS-OIG, and local partners.
In an official statement posted Wednesday, HSI New Jersey said its agents are working with federal and other law enforcement partners to combat transnational fraud, specifically including health care fraud. That warning comes after a major operation nationwide that lead to multiple arrests.
“We are committed to ensuring the integrity of public programs that are funded by the American taxpayer,” the agency said.
The statement brought a New Jersey voice to a warning issued by HSI New York a day earlier: charging public programs for services never delivered is deliberate fraud.
“NOT a paperwork mistake”
HSI New Jersey shared its message alongside an Oct. 20 statement from HSI New York addressing fraudulent billing for care, transportation and other services.
“Billing public programs for care, transportation or other services that were never provided is fraud, NOT a paperwork mistake,” the New York office wrote.
That warning centers on whether the service behind a claim actually happened. A provider collecting public money for nonexistent care is taking payment without delivering what the program was established to provide.
HSI New York said investigators are working to uncover schemes that “exploit neighborhoods & steal taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”
New Jersey office emphasizes health care investigations
For New Jersey, the statement explicitly identifies health care fraud as part of HSI’s continuing investigative work.
“HSI New Jersey, together with our federal and other law enforcement partners, are combating transnational fraud, including health care fraud, every day,” the office said.
The New Jersey and New York statements address the same underlying concern from different directions. New Jersey emphasized protecting public-program funding. New York identified a specific practice investigators pursue—billing for services never provided.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew says the driver accused of seriously injuring Middle Township Officer Austin Kapurelos has an active ICE detainer and should be transferred to federal authorities.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Austin Kapurelos should be enjoying life with his new wife in their new home. Instead, the South Jersey police officer is recovering from surgery after a migrant drunk driver struck him during a traffic stop.
Now his father, a congressman and Middle Township’s mayor are demanding accountability—and cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew said in an Oct. 18 statement that ICE and local officials confirmed the accused driver was in the country illegally and had an active immigration detainer.
“If this man hadn’t been here illegally, Austin would be sitting on the couch with his wife in their new home right now, not lying in a hospital bed,” the officer’s father, Tony Kapurelos, said in the release.
A newlywed’s life interrupted by serious injuries
The family’s account puts a personal face on the crash that seriously injured the Middle Township patrolman Friday, Oct. 16.
“They just got married. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and instead of enjoying this time together, Austin is recovering from surgery, and we’re all praying he’ll be okay,” his father said.
Tony Kapurelos said his family believes in lawful immigration and wants to prevent another family from enduring the same ordeal.
“My family knows what it means to come to America the right way. We believe in this country and its laws,” he said. “What happened to Austin never should have happened, and I don’t want another family to have to go through this.”
Officer struck during Route 47 traffic stop
As Shore News Network previously reported, Kapurelos was conducting a traffic stop on Route 47 South, also known as Wildwood Boulevard, shortly after 10 p.m. when he was struck. shorenewsnetwork.com Emergency personnel treated him before taking him to AtlantiCare Medical Center, where police reported him in critical but stable condition Saturday.
Police identified the driver as Lucio Lopez-Perez, 36, of Erma. He remained at the scene and was taken into custody.
Lopez-Perez was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and violating a public health and safety law resulting in serious bodily injury, along with traffic offenses. Police said he was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center.
Van Drew calls for transfer to ICE
Van Drew said he knows Kapurelos and his family personally, describing them as hardworking South Jersey residents.
“Austin is a fine young man who proudly serves his community and his country, and now he is lying in a hospital bed with serious injuries after being hit by a drunk driver who was in this country illegally,” the congressman said.
Van Drew called on Cape May County Sheriff Nolan to cooperate with ICE and ensure the accused driver is transferred to federal authorities. He also criticized Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s support for taxpayer-funded immigration legal defense, arguing that the state’s priorities leave families bearing the consequences of failed policies.
“We cannot keep allowing preventable tragedies like this to happen to innocent people in New Jersey,” Van Drew said.
Mayor demands prosecution and immigration cooperation
Middle Township Mayor Christopher M. Leusner called for the charges to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of New Jersey law and for the immigration detainer to be honored after state proceedings.
“There should be no limitations on cooperation when it comes to keeping dangerous drivers off our roads,” Leusner said.
The mayor also urged state leaders to meet with law enforcement about changes to New Jersey’s immigration-cooperation rules.
“Ptl. Austin Kapurelos was doing his job, protecting the people of Middle Township, when he was struck and critically injured,” Leusner said. “Our entire community is praying for Austin, his wife, and his family.”
House Republicans demand records by November 16 as Sherrill calls the investigation “political theater” less than two weeks before Election Day.
TRENTON, NJ — A congressional investigation into thousands of improperly registered New Jersey voters escalated Wednesday when House Republicans subpoenaed the Sherrill administration, saying nearly three months of requests had failed to produce adequate answers.
The House Judiciary and House Administration committees are demanding records concerning approximately 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 through the Motor Vehicle Commission.
Acting Secretary of State Shirley U. Emehelu faces a November 16 deadline to produce documents covering the software failure, citizenship safeguards, vendor communications and efforts to remove improperly registered voters. The demand moves the dispute from voluntary requests to compulsory congressional process.
Republicans say the state has not provided sufficient answers
Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Van Drew and Elections Subcommittee Chairwoman Laurel Lee announced the subpoena October 21.
The committees first requested documents August 3. Seventy-nine days later, they said, New Jersey’s response remained inadequate and had impeded their ability to conduct oversight and consider changes to federal election law.
The investigation centers on how people who indicated they were not American citizens nevertheless entered the state’s voter-registration system.
Republicans are also pressing for answers about how the registrations were discovered, what officials did afterward and whether safeguards can reliably prevent another failure.
Their demand concerns both the original registration problem and the state’s handling of its aftermath.
Van Drew demands evidence behind software explanation
Van Drew said hundreds of the improperly registered individuals went on to cast ballots. He accused the administration of answering congressional questions with political attacks and documents that provided little explanation.
“If it was simply a software glitch, then show us the evidence,” Van Drew said.
The South Jersey congressman also questioned why registrations remained on the rolls after the state learned of the problem. He distinguished the original failure, which began under former Gov. Phil Murphy, from the current administration’s responsibility to answer investigators.
The requested records would allow lawmakers to examine the technical explanation alongside communications between state officials and the technology vendor, as well as the measures used to identify and remove ineligible registrations.
Sherrill fires back over election timing
Sherrill rejected the Republicans’ account of her administration’s response and accused congressional leaders of staging a political confrontation thirteen days before the November 3 midterm elections.
“I’m focused on governing effectively. Republicans in Congress clearly aren’t,” she said Wednesday.
The governor said her administration acted immediately after discovering the MVC registration issue, communicated the facts and implemented agency-wide reforms. She maintained that the state had been transparent throughout its response.
Sherrill singled out Van Drew and Jordan, calling their use of the committee “political theater.”
She said her priorities remained secure elections and reducing costs for New Jersey residents.
Eric Clayton Cooke, 38, was arrested Tuesday in connection with an October 14 assault that left Breon Turner fatally injured. More serious charges may follow.
BALTIMORE, MD – A 38-year-old Baltimore man has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after a man he allegedly assaulted in Southwest Baltimore died five days after the attack. Police identified the victim as Breon Turner, 34, who suffered serious injuries during a physical altercation on Ramsey Street.
Eric Clayton Cooke was taken into custody Tuesday, October 20, by Baltimore Police Department warrant apprehension detectives. He was arrested without incident in the 4900 block of Hamilton Avenue, one day after Turner died at an area hospital.
The case is being investigated as a homicide, but police said upgraded charges against Cooke remain pending following findings from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. As of the department’s latest announcement, the charge reported against him was attempted first-degree murder.
Ramsey Street Assault Leaves Baltimore Man Fatally Injured
According to the Baltimore Police Department, Southwest District officers responded to the 1900 block of Ramsey Street at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14.
Officers had received a report of an assault and arrived to find Turner suffering from serious injuries sustained during a physical altercation.
Emergency responders transported the 34-year-old to an area hospital for treatment.
Despite receiving medical care, Turner died Monday, October 19, five days after the initial assault.
Police subsequently upgraded the investigation to a homicide.
Investigators have not publicly described the injuries Turner suffered, identified a weapon or explained what led to the confrontation.
The department also has not disclosed whether Turner and Cooke knew each other before the incident.
Suspect Arrested on Hamilton Avenue Without Incident
On Tuesday, October 20, warrant apprehension detectives located Cooke in the 4900 block of Hamilton Avenue in Baltimore.
Police said he was arrested without incident and transported to the Central Booking Intake Facility.
Cooke was charged with attempted first-degree murder in connection with the October 14 assault.
The timing of the arrest came one day after Turner’s death, while investigators were reviewing the case for possible additional charges.
Police indicated that upgraded charges were pending the findings of the Medical Examiner’s Office, which plays a central role in establishing the cause and manner of death in homicide investigations.
The department has not announced whether a murder charge has been formally filed.
Cooke’s charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Homicide Detectives Await Medical Examiner’s Findings
Baltimore police announced Cooke’s arrest Wednesday, October 21, following the death of Turner and the decision to classify the case as a homicide.
The medical examiner’s findings could affect the charges prosecutors ultimately pursue. For now, the department has reported an attempted first-degree murder charge and has not confirmed any upgraded charges.
Police are continuing to seek information about the October 14 assault. Anyone with information can contact homicide detectives at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
The Baltimore Police Department’s official arrest announcement confirms the arrest, charge and pending medical examiner review.
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