New Delhi, Oct. 23 -- An Indian-origin laboratory owner in the US has been accused of running an alleged $66.2 million (about Rs.628.7 crore) fraud scheme by billing for 3.8 lakh COVID-19 tests that his laboratory allegedly never conducted, the US Department of Justice said in a statement.

Rajesh "Raj" Patel, 52, from Schaumburg, Illinois, has been charged with five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on each count.

Between May 2021 and April 2022, Patel allegedly created 3.8 lakh fake negative test results for samples linked to Meridian Medical Staffing Inc. He then billed the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Uninsured Program for the tests, according to the Department of Jus...