Four Members of the “War Room” Charged in Connection with $12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme
Four Bronx-based defendants linked to the “War Room” were charged with racketeering, fraud, and violence after allegedly orchestrating a $12M Medicaid fraud scheme involving fake patient transport claims, kickbacks, and armed robbery.
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a nine-count indictment charging Louis Trejo, Kenneth Garner, Harold Stevenson, and Erihk Belis with racketeering, fraud, and violent crimes tied to a Bronx-based Medicaid fraud scheme. Prosecutors allege the group fabricated transportation data for Medicaid patients traveling to methadone clinics, generating over $12 million in fraudulent claims through fake ride logs and GPS spoofing. The defendants allegedly recruited patients with cash and drug kickbacks, exploiting addiction treatment programs funded by taxpayers.
Federal authorities also accuse the defendants of orchestrating an armed home invasion robbery in Teaneck, New Jersey, in January 2024 to protect their scheme. The robbery targeted a rival fraud ring leader, resulting in assaults, theft, and prolonged victimization. The violence underscores the group’s efforts to eliminate competition and maintain control over their criminal enterprise.
The indictment describes the defendants as leaders of the “War Room,” operating under a fraudulent charity called the Forward Foundation. They allegedly laundered millions in illicit proceeds through collusive transportation companies, submitting unmatched Medicaid claims for services never provided. The scheme involved hundreds of fake rides weekly, with defendants compensating patients and drivers to sustain the fraudulent billing cycle.
Three arrested defendants—Trejo, Garner, and Belis—are scheduled for arraignment in Manhattan federal court, while Stevenson remains at large. The case, assigned to Judge John G. Koeltl, highlights coordinated efforts by multiple agencies to dismantle violent fraud networks targeting Medicaid. Prosecutors emphasize the exploitation of vulnerable patients and the diversion of critical healthcare funds to illicit activities.