It’s not every day that someone gets sentenced to federal prison while they’re nowhere to be found—but that’s exactly what happened in Los Angeles when a California doctor was handed a 54-month prison sentence. The kicker? She didn’t even show up to court.
A Medical License Turned Into a Fraud Tool
Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, a 61-year-old physician from Porter Ranch, was once a licensed and trusted Medicare provider in California.
But instead of using her credentials to care for patients, prosecutors say she used them to commit fraud—raking in thousands through shady home health certifications.
From 2012 to 2018, Baltaian signed off on home health care services for patients who didn’t actually need them.
Even worse, in many cases she hadn’t even seen the patients. Instead, she handed out pre-signed, undated forms to home health agencies, knowing full well they would fake the details to bill Medicare for services never rendered.
Faking It for Cash
The scheme wasn’t just a paperwork issue—it was a full-blown fraud operation.
Those blank certifications were the golden tickets for at least four home health agencies in the Los Angeles area.
Using Baltaian’s name, they submitted false claims to Medicare and cashed in big. In total, the scam is estimated to have cost the government nearly $1.5 million.
Baltaian wasn’t doing this out of the kindness of her heart either.
She reportedly accepted cash payments in exchange for her fake referrals.
On top of that, she even billed Medicare separately for signing the fraudulent forms—as if the forged paperwork deserved its own paycheck.
Guilty Plea Without a Goodbye
Despite pleading guilty to one count of health care fraud back in November 2024, Baltaian never showed up for her sentencing.
The judge went ahead and sentenced her anyway: four and a half years behind bars and a restitution order for the full $1.49 million.
But with Baltaian now officially a fugitive, federal authorities are still trying to track her down.
Feds Speak Out as Manhunt Continues
The case was a joint effort involving multiple federal agencies.
Officials from the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General all collaborated to investigate the fraud and bring charges.
“This kind of health care fraud doesn’t just steal from taxpayers—it takes resources away from people who really need them,” said officials during the announcement.
Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud Nationwide
Baltaian’s case is just one of thousands being investigated by the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force.
Since its launch in 2007, the program has charged over 5,800 people involved in schemes totaling more than $30 billion in fraudulent health care claims.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are also working closely with federal investigators to hold unethical providers accountable and stop scams before they start.
What’s Next?
Now that Baltaian has officially been sentenced, the search is on.
The FBI and other federal agencies are continuing their efforts to locate her and bring her into custody.
Meanwhile, the case serves as a high-profile warning: even licensed professionals can—and will—be held accountable if they defraud the system.
Let me know if you’d like this adapted for social media, headlines, or another format.