A Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigator and crime analyst helped stop a Russian national accused of filing $400 million in fake Medicare claims, according to a statement released on Mar. 27.
The case highlights the importance of collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies in addressing large-scale insurance fraud schemes that can impact both patients and healthcare providers.
Authorities say Nikolai Buzolin was living in Houston in 2025 when he created a durable medical equipment company. He allegedly stole patients’ and doctors’ identities to submit fraudulent claims to health plans that administer Medicare Part C. Investigators report that Buzolin opened eight bank accounts where he deposited $1.7 million received from reimbursements before his arrest.
“A few of the patients checked their explanation of benefits and noticed that they were getting medical equipment that they didn’t need. And it was coming from doctors they’d never met,” said TDI Fraud Unit investigator Sgt. Kevin Mannion.
Buzolin appeared in court on March 5 and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Mannion is part of the FBI Task Force in Houston which surveilled and investigated Buzolin’s activities. When law enforcement attempted to arrest him at his home, Buzolin had already fled; however, a TDI crime analyst tracked his car to Los Angeles where local FBI agents arrested him as he was boarding a plane bound for Russia.
Mannion said the investigation involved cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Texas Office of the Attorney General: “TDI works with federal, state, and local partners to follow cases wherever they go, whether it’s California or right here in Texas,” Mannion said. “We track them down, we shut them down, and we help dismantle these criminal activities.”
The TDI encourages anyone who suspects insurance fraud to call its Help Line at 800-252-3439 Monday through Friday during business hours.
