US authorities have arrested Cashmir Chinedu Luke, CEO of California-based Four Corners Health LLC, on allegations of defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs of over $7 million. Luke was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to flee to Nigeria. Court filings allege that between December 2019 and July 2024, he submitted about 10,000 false claims for care not rendered to elderly VA beneficiaries.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Luke immediately spent reimbursements on personal expenses and transferred funds across bank accounts in Asia and Africa. “Luke caused Four Corners to submit approximately 10,000 individual false claims of care provided that caused the VA… to reimburse Four Corners $7 million,” the statement said. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.