LOS ANGELES
Paul Richard Randall, 66, of Orange, was charged with aiding and abetting health care fraud for allegedly helping submit nearly $270 million in false Medi-Cal claims over 11 months, officials stated.
The claims involved high-reimbursement, generic prescription drugs that were not medically necessary and often never dispensed.
According to authorities, Randall, who operated through Monte Vista Pharmacy, exploited a temporary suspension of Medi-Cal’s prior authorization rules, billing tens of millions of dollars monthly for non-contracted drugs. Medi-Cal paid out over $178 million for these fraudulent claims between May 2022 and April 2023.
He and co-conspirators — Kyrollos Mekail, 37, and Patricia Anderson, 57 — allegedly used kickbacks and laundering tactics to conceal profits and pay off participants. Randall was ordered jailed without bond after his court appearance; arraignment is set for July 17.
This case is part of the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which charged 324 defendants nationwide, including nearly 100 medical professionals, with schemes totaling over $14.6 billion in intended losses.
Authorities also seized $245 million in assets, revoked 205 provider privileges, and blocked $4 billion in fraudulent payments.
Mekail has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. Anderson was charged separately last week.
The investigation is ongoing, led by Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and the California Department of Justice.