A Hewlett medical supply company owner has been arrested and indicted for allegedly stealing more than $2.5 million from Medicaid through fraudulent claims for pediatric formula, leaving some families without nutritional products ordered for their children, state prosecutors said.
Nduka Lewis Ekpenyong, 36, and his company, Duke Medical Inc., were charged with first-degree grand larceny, second-degree health care fraud and first-degree scheme to defraud.
A Kings County grand jury returned the three-count indictment June 9. The court filing identifies Ekpenyong by the alias “Lewis” and alleges that he acted on behalf of Duke Medical in submitting false Medicaid reimbursement claims.
The alleged scheme ran from April 13, 2023, through July 15, 2025, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.
During that period, Ekpenyong allegedly submitted more than 6,000 claims through Duke Medical for PediaSure with Peptides, an enteral formula intended for children diagnosed with severe gastrointestinal conditions.
Investigators said Ekpenyong did not purchase most of the formula listed in the claims. An audit by the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that Duke Medical bought only about 10% of the amount it billed to Medicaid.
Medicaid paid the company $2,531,194.30 for formula that was allegedly medically unnecessary in some cases and never purchased or delivered in many others, prosecutors said.
Ekpenyong also allegedly instructed employees at pediatric medical practices to alter prescriptions for basic PediaSure and submit requests for PediaSure with Peptides. The change allowed Duke Medical to bill Medicaid for the more expensive specialized formula, according to the attorney general’s office.
Prosecutors said the alleged conduct prevented some families from receiving the nutritional products their children’s pediatricians had ordered.
“Ekpenyong heartlessly charged Medicaid millions for pediatric formula that was never delivered,” James said.
The indictment’s grand larceny count alleges that Ekpenyong and Duke Medical falsely represented that quantities of enteral formula had been provided to Medicaid recipients when the services were not performed.
The second-degree health care fraud count covers conduct allegedly committed between Jan. 1 and July 15, 2025. Prosecutors allege the defendants provided false information or withheld material information while requesting Medicaid payments and improperly received more than $50,000 during that period.
The scheme-to-defraud count alleges an ongoing course of conduct intended to obtain money from more than one person through false representations.
Authorities allege Ekpenyong used money from the scheme to purchase a Bentley and a Range Rover and to make mortgage payments on his Long Island home.
James also filed a civil asset forfeiture action seeking $7,593,582.90 in damages. The action allowed the attorney general’s office to seize the luxury vehicles and restricts Ekpenyong from selling the multimillion-dollar house whose mortgage was allegedly partially paid with Medicaid funds.
Ekpenyong faces a maximum sentence of 8⅓ to 25 years in state prison if convicted of the top charge.
The charges are accusations. Ekpenyong and Duke Medical are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Photos: Ekpenyong’s house, which was partially paid for using stolen Medicaid funds, and his cars that were seized as a result of OAG’s investigation/NY Attorney General Office.
