California couple allegedly reaped millions when elderly man landed in hospice but he was just constipated

A California couple is accused of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme that placed an elderly man into hospice care even though he was not terminally ill and was instead suffering from constipation, according to federal authorities.

Prosecutors allege that Gladwin Gill, 66, and Amelou Gill, 70, owners of a Southern California hospice company, falsely certified patients as terminally ill to collect lucrative Medicare reimbursements. Among those patients was a 95-year-old man identified in court documents as “V.J.,” whose case has become a central example of the alleged fraud.

According to a complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and viewed by Law & Crime, V.J. was hospitalized in May 2020 with abdominal pain that was ultimately attributed to a “fecal mass” in his colon. After treatment, he appeared to recover and “did not need palliative care,” investigators said.

Despite that assessment, the Gills’ company — 626 Hospice Inc., operating as St. Francis Palliative Care — allegedly enrolled him in hospice and repeatedly billed Medicare for services intended only for patients expected to live six months or less.

V.J. dying? Not according to those who knew him

Federal investigators say neither V.J., his daughter, nor his primary physician had been told he was terminally ill. In fact, his doctor had never diagnosed him with a life expectancy of six months or less, a key requirement for hospice eligibility.

Authorities say the Gills and their associates enrolled numerous individuals who were not terminally ill — sometimes without their knowledge — to generate Medicare payments. Some patients were even re-enrolled multiple times, according to court records.

When a patient is fraudulently placed on hospice, they lose their rights to curative care. If “V.J.” had suffered a different emergency while enrolled, Medicare might have denied life-saving treatment because hospice status implies the patient has “given up” curative measures.

“Operation Never Say Die”

The case is part of a sweeping federal crackdown dubbed “Operation Never Say Die” that targets hospice fraud in Southern California. Prosecutors allege the broader scheme defrauded Medicare out of more than $50 million.

The operation is the biggest hospice fraud takedown in California history, involving 14 defendants across multiple companies.

Investigators began to uncover irregularities after noticing red flags in hospice billing patterns, including patients who were not declining as expected or who remained in care far longer than typical hospice timelines.

Authorities also allege the couple paid illegal kickbacks for patient referrals and submitted claims for services that were either unnecessary or never provided.

Officials say fraudulent hospice enrollment not only drains taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare but can also deprive patients of appropriate medical treatment.

The Justice Department has described healthcare fraud as costing the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually, with hospice schemes emerging as a significant area of concern.

Gladwin, a psychologist, and Amelou, a registered nurse, have both been charged with healthcare fraud and related offenses. They are scheduled to appear in federal court, where they could face significant prison time if convicted.