New York prosecutors accuse Russian diplomats of US$1.5m health fraud
Prosecutors in New York allege 49 current and former officials and their wives swindled cash from Medicaid programme and spent it on luxuries
US prosecutors have accused 49 current and former Russian diplomats and their wives of a "shameful" US$1.5 million fraud in which they stole medical benefits intended for the poor.
The alleged scam took place between 2004 and August this year, when the suspects were based at the Russian mission to the United Nations, the Russian consulate and the Russian trade mission, all in New York.
They are accused of lying about their true income to claim the benefits while splashing out tens of thousands of US dollars in designer shops such as Tiffany & Co, Jimmy Choo and Prada.
All the defendants have diplomatic immunity and none has been arrested after an investigation by the FBI.
Prosecutors said the group obtained almost US$500,000 from Medicaid, a federal programme earmarked for low-income families, under provisions that pay out funds for children born in the US.
A total of US$1.5 million in benefits was illegally obtained by the Russians and dozens of other co-conspirators, who were not named in the complaint.
Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara denounced the "shameful and systemic corruption". He added: "Diplomacy should be all about extending hands, not picking pockets in the host country."