A Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigator and crime analyst played a key role in stopping a Russian national accused of filing $400 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, according to a March 27 announcement.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat large-scale health care fraud that can impact patients and federal programs. Authorities say such schemes not only result in financial losses but also put personal information at risk.
Nikolai Buzolin, who was living in Houston in 2025, allegedly created a durable medical equipment company and used stolen identities from patients and doctors to submit fake claims to health plans administering Medicare Part C. He reportedly opened eight bank accounts where he deposited $1.7 million received through reimbursements before being caught.
“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 could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Mannion is part of the FBI Task Force in Houston that surveilled and investigated Buzolin. When officers went to his house with enough evidence for an arrest, Buzolin had already fled; however, a TDI crime analyst tracked his car to Los Angeles where local FBI agents arrested him as he attempted to board a plane bound for Russia.
The investigation involved cooperation between the TDI, FBI, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and 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.”
