Trump’s Billion-Dollar Pardons: Crooks Walk, Victims Suffer

Pardons for Profit: How Trump Let Billion-Dollar Medicare Crooks Walk—While Victims Got Jack

Welcome to the Upside-Down

In a country where people crowd GoFundMe just to afford insulin, where elders ration pills to survive, and where medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy, Donald Trump used his presidential power to pardon some of the worst medical fraudsters in U.S. history. These weren’t harmless white-collar crimes. These were billion-dollar scams that preyed on the sick, the elderly, and the poor—and the perpetrators walked away rich, free, and smiling.

This isn’t just a scandal. It’s a gut punch to every American who’s ever trusted the system to protect them. And if you’re not mad yet, keep reading.

The Crooks Who Got a Pass

Let’s break down who got pardoned—and what they did to deserve prison time in the first place.

🏥 Philip Esformes

Convicted in one of the largest healthcare fraud cases in U.S. history, Esformes ran a $1.3 billion Medicare scam through a network of fake nursing homes. He billed for services never provided, bribed doctors, and even paid off a college coach to get his son into Penn. Prosecutors said he used stolen taxpayer money to fund a luxury lifestyle—think Bentleys, Rolexes, and private jets. He was sentenced to 20 years. Trump commuted his sentence after just 14 months.

👁️ Salomon Melgen

A Florida eye doctor who made millions by diagnosing elderly patients with fake eye diseases and subjecting them to painful, unnecessary treatments—including injections directly into their eyes. Prosecutors called his actions “barbaric and inhumane.” He defrauded Medicare of over $42 million. Trump let him out after four years.

💉 John Davis

CEO of a massive pain clinic chain, Davis was convicted of taking $750,000 in kickbacks and running a scheme that billed Medicare for excessive urine tests—so profitable that staff called them “liquid gold.” He served just four months before Trump set him free. Meanwhile, the DOJ was still suing him for defrauding taxpayers out of tens of millions more.

🏦 Lawrence Duran

Ran a $205 million Medicare fraud ring in Miami. His company billed for mental health services that were never provided. He was sentenced to 50 years. Trump’s pardon wiped it all away—including $87 million in restitution.

🚛 Trevor Milton

Founder of electric truck company Nikola, Milton was convicted of defrauding investors out of $676 million by lying about his company’s technology. He was pardoned before a judge could even finalize his restitution order.

These weren’t isolated cases. Trump’s clemency spree included at least 13 fraudsters convicted in schemes totaling over $1.6 billion in stolen funds from Medicare, Medicaid, and investors.

The Fallout: $1.3 Billion in Restitution—Gone

According to a 2025 report by House Judiciary Committee Democrats, Trump’s pardons erased more than $1.3 billion in restitution and fines. That money was supposed to go to victims—elderly patients, defrauded investors, pension funds, and taxpayers.

Instead, the crooks kept their yachts, watches, and mansions. Some even tried to get back the money they’d already paid. One fraudster asked a judge to return $2 million in restitution because, hey, the pardon said he didn’t owe it anymore.

This wasn’t just a legal technicality. It was a deliberate choice to protect the rich and powerful at the expense of the vulnerable.

The Connections: Who You Know Matters

So why did these people get pardoned? Let’s talk access.

• Paul Walczak, a nursing home exec convicted of tax fraud, got a pardon after his mother attended a $1 million-per-person fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.

• Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, was pardoned after heavy lobbying from libertarian groups.

• John Davis had the backing of country music star Luke Bryan.

• Carlos Watson, former CEO of Ozy Media, was pardoned despite owing $36.7 million in restitution to investors.

Meanwhile, victims—many of them elderly, disabled, or low-income—were left with nothing.

The Bigger Picture: A System on Sale

This isn’t just about Trump. It’s about a justice system that lets the rich rewrite the rules. A system where presidential power can be used not to correct injustice—but to reward loyalty, protect donors, and erase accountability.

Legal experts say these pardons undermine deterrence and send a dangerous message: if you’re rich, well-connected, or politically useful, you’re above the law.

And for the rest of us? We’re told to accept it. To move on. To forget.

Why We Should Be Outraged

This isn’t politics. This is personal.

• If your grandma got scammed by a fake doctor, would she get justice?

• If your community lost millions in pension funds, would anyone care?

• If you stole $100 from your job, would you get a pardon—or a prison cell?

These pardons didn’t just let criminals walk. They mocked every person who’s ever played by the rules and still got crushed by the system.

What Now?

We can’t undo the pardons. But we can refuse to forget. We can demand accountability. We can shine a light on every backroom deal, every donor favor, every injustice swept under the rug.

Because if we don’t? This will happen again. And next time, it might be your community, your family, your future on the chopping block.

✊🏽 Call to Action

If you’re tired of watching the powerful walk free while the rest of us pay the price, join the movement. Share this. Talk about it. Demand better.

Justice shouldn’t be for sale. And we’re not done fighting.