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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

SoCal Baby Broker|Charged With Wire Fraud

SAN DIEGO (CN) — The owner of a Southern California "medical tourism" company stole $2 million from infertile clients who never got anything for their money, federal prosecutors say in a wire fraud indictment.

Bond was set at $50,000 Tuesday for Acharayya Rupak, 48, of Calabasas, who ran Planet Hospital, claiming he was a broker between infertile clients in the United States and Mexican clinics that provide human egg donors, in vitro fertilization and surrogate mothers.

Rupak took the money, but "the clinics didn't get their money [and] the clients never received the services," U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a statement Wednesday.

Rupak, a Canadian citizen, also used the name Rudy Rupak, Rudolph Matthews and Kevin Thomas Rudolph Matthews.

Rupak founded Planet Hospital in 2003 and had offices in San Diego, Calabasas and Calexico. He started his fertility scam in 2008, according to the grand jury indictment, which was filed under seal on June 10.

He defrauded one victim of $22,500 in wire transfers, according to the indictment, which seeks forfeiture of at least $2 million.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000, plus restitution. His next court date is July 25 at 2 p.m.

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