Man pleads guilty in $227M COVID scheme, paid $11M for personal info on Medicare recipients
Lila Thompson
Lila Thompson
Bureau Chief · Cleveland, OH
Lila has over 15 years of experience covering local government and politics in Cleveland. She holds a Bachelor's in Journalism from Ohio University and has previously worked as a political correspondent for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Lila's expertise in navigating complex political landscapes makes her a trusted source for local governance.
More from Lila →Bureau Chief · Monday, November 2, 2026 at 5:29 PM · 1 min read
An Indian national pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 as part of a $227 million COVID testing scheme that involved buying the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries. According to the FBI, Syed Murtuza Kablazada, 36, entered the plea on two counts of health care fraud in federal court in connection with the scheme.