Botox Fraud Doctor Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for $45M Medicare Scheme

California doctor Violetta Mailyan was sentenced to 15 years in prison for using her medical practice to fraudulently bill Medicare more than $45 million for Botox injection services that were medically unnecessary and never provided.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Violetta Mailyan, 45, of Glendale, California, owned and operated Healthy Way Medical Center, a clinic that purported to provide beauty and cosmetic services.

Incident Overview

Although Medicare reimburses medical providers for Botox injections when necessary to treat documented cases of chronic migraines, Mailyan billed and received payments for thousands of injections that were never provided, were provided only for cosmetic purposes, or were given to patients whose primary care physicians had not referred them for treatment of chronic migraines. Evidence showed that Mailyan billed for thousands of injections, representing over $19 million, purportedly provided on days when her clinic was closed. Mailyan also billed for providing Botox injections when she was actually on vacation in Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, and New York. When Mailyan realized federal investigators were closing in, she tried to hide her tracks by falsifying medical records and forging Medicare beneficiary signatures, including for a man who was in federal prison during the time Mailyan claimed to have provided treatment.

Suspect Information

Violetta Mailyan is 45 years old and resides in Glendale, California. She owned and operated Healthy Way Medical Center, a clinic purporting to provide beauty and cosmetic services. Evidence presented at trial showed she used stolen funds to purchase luxury goods, including a $12,000 seventeenth century crossbow, a $3,000 painting, two Tesla vehicles including a Cybertruck, and five pieces of California real estate.

Investigation

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sandor Callahan and Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Fraud Division's Health Care Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Vavere for the Central District of California's Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section handled asset forfeiture matters following a six-day jury trial ending in May 2026.

Evidence Collected

• Falsified medical records and forged Medicare beneficiary signatures submitted to federal investigators
• Financial records documenting billings exceeding $45 million to Medicare
• Luxury items purchased with fraud proceeds, including a $12,000 seventeenth century crossbow and a $3,000 painting
• Two Tesla vehicles, including a Cybertruck, purchased using fraud proceeds
• Five pieces of California real estate purchased using fraud proceeds

Charges Filed

• Wire fraud: Federal charge involving schemes to defraud via electronic communications, carrying significant prison time and financial penalties depending on the specific statutory provisions and financial loss amounts involved.
• Obstruction of a criminal investigation of a health care offense: Federal charge involving attempts to impede, obstruct, or influence federal health care fraud investigations through falsifying records or forging signatures.

Court Information

The case was handled in federal court following a six-day jury trial ending in May 2026. In addition to the 15-year prison sentence, the Court ordered the immediate forfeiture of over $16,029,742 worth of property seized from Mailyan, including real property, personal property, securities, and bank funds. Mailyan was also ordered to pay $32,904,049.41 in restitution to Medicare.

Statements from Authorities

In sentencing Mailyan, the Court commented that Mailyan's fraud was truly breathtaking in scope and shocking in its duration, and that her actions were almost unbelievable in their brazenness.

Public Safety Information

Federal authorities encourage the public to report health care fraud and abuse involving government programs. Individuals with information regarding potential medical billing fraud or related financial schemes can report tips to federal law enforcement authorities through established reporting mechanisms.

What Happens Next

Following sentencing and the order of financial restitution and asset forfeiture, federal authorities will pursue the return of stolen funds to Medicare, while the defendant begins serving the 15-year prison sentence.