Michigan Attorney General Charges Macomb County Dentist with 131 Counts of Medicaid Fraud in Alleged Dental Crowns Scheme

Attorney General Dana Nessel Files Racketeering Charges in Large-Scale Medicaid Fraud Case

LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on April 3 that a Macomb County dentist is facing 131 counts of Medicaid fraud and one count of racketeering in an alleged scheme involving unnecessary dental crowns billed to the state's Medicaid program.

Faddi S. Salim, DDS, 37, of Troy, was arraigned on the charges in 54B District Court in East Lansing. According to a press release from the Attorney General's office, Salim faces the following charges:

• One count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison
• 131 counts of Medicaid fraud, each a felony punishable by up to 4 years in incarceration and/or a fine of up to $50,000

The Alleged Scheme

The Attorney General's investigation alleges that Salim repeatedly billed the Medicaid program for placing large numbers of dental crowns on patients that were both unnecessary and never provided. The scheme allegedly unfolded after Salim's patients, many of whom had multiple crowns billed against their benefits, were told the treatment wasn't covered because their benefits were already exhausted.

"Flagrant abuse of the Medicaid program diverts critical funds from patients in need," Attorney General Nessel said in a press release. "My office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting those responsible for fraudulent schemes."

Legal Proceedings

Salim was arraigned on March 19, and Judge Lisa Babcock issued him a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. He appeared in court for a probable cause conference on April 2 and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 1, according to the Attorney General's release.

Michigan's Medicaid Fraud Division

The Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division is handling the case. This division serves as Michigan's federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and receives 75% of its funding, approximately $5.5 million, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The state covers the remaining 25%, or roughly $1.8 million, for fiscal year 2026.

If you are a former patient of Salim and believe you were billed for crowns or dental services that weren't provided, the Attorney General's office accepts reports at 1-800-24-ABUSE.

Broader Context

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by the Michigan Attorney General's office to combat healthcare fraud. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit plays a critical role in protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that limited healthcare resources reach the patients who need them most.

The division's work is part of a broader federal partnership under the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Act, which allows states to receive federal funding in exchange for conducting investigations and prosecutions of Medicaid fraud cases.

What Medicaid Fraud Means

Medicaid fraud occurs when healthcare providers, facilities, or individuals falsely bill the Medicaid program for services that were not provided, were not medically necessary, or were obtained through deception. Such fraud wastes taxpayer dollars that could be used to provide essential healthcare services to low-income Michigan residents.

The federal government estimates that Medicaid and Medicare fraud cost the nation billions of dollars annually. Michigan's Health Care Fraud Division works to identify and prosecute such schemes, serving as both an investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Attorney General's office.

Sources

• Michigan Attorney General's Office: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/04/03/macomb-county-dentist-charged-with-racketeering-in-massive-alleged-medicaid-fraud-scheme
• ClickOnDetroit: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/04/03/macomb-county-dentist-faces-131-counts-of-medicaid-fraud-in-scheme-involving-dental-crowns/
• Wilx.com: https://www.wilx.com/2026/04/03/michigan-dentist-faces-racketeering-charges-billing-work-that-never-happened/
• WWMT: https://wwmt.com/news/state/troy-dentist-facing-more-than-130-charges-for-alleged-medicaid-fraud
• Macomb Daily: https://www.macombdaily.com/2026/04/03/macomb-county-dentist-charged-in-massive-allegedly-medicaid-fraud-scheme/