Randall orchestrated a $270 million Medi-Cal fraud scheme spanning only 11 months
News on the Net -- F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli, Bio and Archives--September 9, 2026
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This case was prosecuted under the leadership of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and Colin M. McDonald of our @DOJFraudDivision.
Randall and his co-conspirators exploited a temporary suspension of Medi-Cal’s prior authorization requirements during the program’s transition to a new payment system.
Through Monte Vista Pharmacy, the group submitted tens of millions of dollars in monthly claims for high-reimbursement, non-contracted prescription drugs that were medically unnecessary, not provided to patients, or consisted of low-cost generic ingredients, including over-the-counter vitamins.
From May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista Pharmacy billed Medi-Cal nearly $270 million and received more than $178 million.
The court ordered Randall, who pleaded guilty on April 7 to one count of wire fraud committed while on release, to pay $178,746,556 in restitution. He committed these crimes while a federal criminal tax case was pending and was convicted in that case as well.
While we are pleased with today’s sentence, California must do better to prevent criminals from looting taxpayer coffers before it happens, not scramble to recoup money after it’s been stolen.
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— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli)September 9, 2026
Paul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum.
Randall orchestrated a $270 million Medi-Cal fraud scheme spanning only 11 months.
This case was prosecuted under the leadership of the @WHFraudTF… https://t.co/4XCEEQClst
Seven properties, a Mercedes G-Wagon, sneakers worn by Kobe Bryant and a Mickey Mantle rookie card worth $1.5 million. All of these things were bought with taxpayer money.
Paul Randall pleaded guilty in one of the largest Medicaid fraud schemes in the California history – diverting more than $270 million in tax dollars.
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