A federal jury has convicted Violetta Mailyan, a doctor from Glendale, for carrying out a massive Medicare fraud scheme involving fake Botox treatment claims worth more than $45 million.
According to the United States Department of Justice, the 45-year-old doctor was found guilty of:
- Nine counts of wire fraud
- Three counts of obstruction of a criminal healthcare investigation
Prosecutors said Mailyan used her clinic, Healthy Way Medical Center, to submit fraudulent Medicare claims for Botox injections that were either medically unnecessary or never provided at all.
Investigators discovered that she had received more Medicare money for Botox injections than any other doctor in the United States. Officials said she collected more than $24 million over four years — around six times more than the next highest group of providers.
Authorities said many of the Botox treatments were falsely billed as migraine therapy, even though:
- Patients never received the injections
- Treatments were done only for cosmetic purposes
- Some patients had no referral for chronic migraine care
- Certain injections were billed while patients were in prison
- Claims were submitted on days the clinic was closed
Investigators also found that Mailyan billed Medicare for treatments while she was travelling on luxury vacations to places including:
- Cabo, Mexico
- Maui, Hawaii
- Las Vegas
- New York
- Pennsylvania
According to prosecutors, Mailyan tried to hide the fraud by creating fake medical records, backdating documents, and fabricating patient consent forms.
Officials said she spent millions of dollars from the scheme on luxury purchases and expensive travel. These purchases reportedly included:
| Luxury Item | Reported Cost |
|---|---|
| 17th-century crossbow | $12,000 |
| Painting of Ludwig I, Crown Prince of Bavaria | $3,000 |
On social media, Mailyan allegedly promoted herself as a cosmetic Botox specialist and described herself as a “BOTOX FILLER NONSURGICAL NOSE COSMETIC DOCTOR.”
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said the case highlights how federal investigators are using data analytics to identify unusual healthcare billing patterns and uncover fraud.
Mailyan now faces:
- Up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count
- Up to 5 years in prison for each obstruction count
A sentencing date has not yet been announced.
