Washington ( CNN ) -- Federal authorities arrested more than 50 suspects Wednesday and smashed what they describe as an Armenian-American organized crime enterprise engaged in a nationwide scheme to defraud the Medicare program . The Justice Department indicted 73 individuals in New York and four other states for allegedly defrauding Medicare and other health care programs of an estimated $ 163 million . The government said 44 defendants were indicted in New York , along with 10 in California , seven in New Mexico , six in Ohio and six in Georgia . Indictments said the schemes included billing Medicare from phantom clinics for unnecessary medical services , or services never performed . `` The emergence of international organized crime in domestic health care fraud schemes signals a dangerous expansion that poses a serious threat to consumers as these syndicates are willing to exploit almost any program , business , or individual to earn an illegal profit , '' said Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary Grindler . By midday Wednesday , federal agents had taken at least 52 of the suspects into custody . According to a multiple-agency announcement , the charges ranged from fraud and conspiracy to money laundering , identity theft and immigration fraud . Maximum penalties upon conviction range from 10 years to life in prison . Justice prosecutors said the defendants would be tried in the five states where they were indicted .
Group is described as an Armenian-American crime enterprise . 73 people in five states indicted ; more than 50 in custody so far . Authorities say the schemes defrauded Medicare of $ 163 million .