FRESNO – The CEO of a Fresno-based health care company was arrested at San Francisco International Airport for submitting false claims for services that were never provided, including billing for care purportedly rendered to veterans who had already died.
According to the announcement from Dec. 3, Cashmir Chinedu Luke, 66, is accused of masterminding a fraudulent scheme that bilked the Department of Veterans Affairs out of more than $7 million. Luke, the CEO and sole owner of Four Corners Health LLC, is facing federal charges after allegedly submitting around 10,000 false claims to the VA between December 2019 and July 2024.Â
Luke’s company, which provided in-home care for veterans in counties across California, is accused of charging for care that never took place, including for days when caretakers were absent or veterans had passed away.
Luke was arrested at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria. Authorities reported that he used the fraudulently obtained funds for lavish personal expenses and transferred the money overseas. The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee handling the prosecution.
Luke faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
