U.S. federal authorities have arrested Cashmir Chinedu Luke, a Nigerian-born chief executive of a California home care company, over allegations that he orchestrated a five-year fraud scheme that cost the Department of Veterans Affairs more than $7 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California said Luke was detained at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria. His arrest follows a lengthy investigation into claims submitted for services that prosecutors say were never provided, including care billed for veterans who had already died.
Prosecutors said Luke, believed to be 66, operated Four Corners Health LLC, a provider of unskilled in-home nursing support for elderly beneficiaries of the Veterans Community Care Program. The company worked across several California counties, including Fresno, Tulare, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, San Francisco, and Contra Costa.
Court documents allege that between December 2019 and July 2024, Luke submitted about 10,000 false claims. Investigators said the filings included duplicate submissions, charges for hours never worked, days when caregivers were not present, and billings for veterans who were already deceased. They said these claims led to reimbursements exceeding $7 million.
According to the statement, payments from the VA were quickly spent or moved through bank accounts across Asia and Africa. Prosecutors said the transactions were structured to obscure the flow of funds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that if convicted, Luke faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing would be determined under federal guidelines, which consider multiple statutory factors. Officials emphasized that the charges remain allegations, and Luke is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case stems from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee assigned to prosecute.
