Louisville doctor, nurse and nonprofit founder charged in federal health care fraud crackdown | Crime Reports
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Several Louisville residents and two Louisville-based companies are facing federal charges as part of a nationwide healthcare fraud enforcement operation announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Kentucky announced charges in four separate cases involving alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, misuse medical credentials and controlled substances, and submit false claims for reimbursement.
The cases are part of the DOJ’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a nationwide effort that resulted in charges against 455 defendants accused of submitting more than $6.5 billion in false claims.
Among the Louisville defendants are Angela Renfro, 57, and Briana Gosnell, 35, along with Louisville-based KLF Company LLC and Freedom Center LLC.
Prosecutors allege the defendants submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent and unauthorized claims to Kentucky Medicaid for peer support and psychoeducation services, with more than $10.7 million allegedly paid by the program. Investigators claim some services were unauthorized, fraudulent or never provided.
According to the indictment, Renfro and Gosnell allegedly used medical providers’ National Provider Identifier numbers without authorization to submit claims through the companies. Both women also face aggravated identity theft charges.
In a separate case, Louisville physician Dr. Christian Berkhahn, 51, is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud and health care fraud. Prosecutors allege Berkhahn used his DEA registration number to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances in the names of other individuals and that Kentucky Medicaid paid for those prescriptions.
Court documents also allege Berkhahn wrote prescriptions in other people’s names with the intent that someone else would ultimately obtain the controlled substances, and that health care benefit programs were billed for reimbursement. Berkhahn is the owner of Metro Pediatric Associates and has medical staff privileges at Baptist Health Louisville, though he is not employed by Baptist Health.
Another Louisville defendant, Meredith Rachael Douglass, 38, a registered nurse, is charged with theft of medical products, making false statements related to health care matters and obtaining controlled substances through fraud. Federal authorities allege Douglass stole medications, including fentanyl, hydromorphone and oxycodone, from hospitals where she worked and falsified medical records.
Prosecutors allege Douglass stole fentanyl from two unnamed Louisville hospitals instead of giving it to patients and, in one case, documented vitals and fentanyl administration after the patient had already been discharged. Prosecutors also allege that within two months in 2024, Douglass tried to obtain multiple Schedule II drugs — including Percocet and fentanyl — fraudulently. Norton Healthcare said Douglass was previously employed but is not currently.
A fourth case involves a Florida man accused of using a Louisville business location to bill Medicare for services that were never provided. Federal prosecutors identify the man as Einar Serrano Reyes and allege he used a location on Bardstown Road to bill Medicare more than $450,000 through JL Serenity Center.
U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said the alleged schemes cost taxpayers millions of dollars and diverted resources from programs designed to help vulnerable patients.
All charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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