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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Community US Affairs News India Times (December 6, 2025 - December 12, 2025) December 12, 2025 7 Kellie (Mitra) Doucette Named New Jersey’s First Chief Operating Officer G overnor-elect Mikie Sherrill has appointed Kellie Doucette as New Jersey’s first Chief Operating Officer (COO), a newly created position aimed at modernizing state government and improving ef- ficiency, transparency, and accountability. In her new role, Doucette will oversee day-to-day operations and lead transformation initiatives across the executive branch. She will work closely with the gover- nor’s cabinet to ensure state government delivers results for New Jersey families. The creation of the COO position underscores Sherrill’s commitment to a new style of lead- ership in Trenton focused on operational excellence and effective service delivery. “Kellie Doucette has spent her career bringing people together, solving tough problems, and making organiza- tions work better for the people they serve,” said Gover- nor-elect Sherrill. “As New Jersey’s first Chief Operating Officer, Kellie will help us build a dynamic government that focuses relentlessly on results—starting with our priority of making life more affordable for New Jersey residents.” Doucette currently serves as Executive Director of the Sherrill Gubernatorial Transition and has previously held senior leadership roles in both government and the pri- vate sector. Her experience spans management, strategy, and organizational development, including initiatives in infrastructure, workforce development, and public engagement. “I’m deeply honored to take on this new role,” Doucette said in a statement. “Governor-elect Sherrill’s vision for a more efficient, transparent, and innovative government is exactly what New Jersey needs right now. I’m excited to focus everything we do on results and cus- tomer service—cutting red tape, breaking down silos, and ensuring New Jersey’s public servants have the resources they need to make New Jersey stronger and more afford- able.” Doucette also shared her excitement on LinkedIn, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and highlighting her commitment to driving meaningful change in state government. In her capacity as COO, Doucette will collaborate closely with Chief of Staff Alex Ball and Chief Counsel Tim Lydon to modernize state processes, improve agency outcomes, and coordinate statewide initiatives. Similar roles in other states, including Arizona, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Oregon, have proven instru- mental in overhauling technology systems, streamlining citizen services, and aligning agency efforts to tackle key priorities. With this appointment, New Jersey joins a growing number of states adopting the COO model to strengthen government performance and better serve residents. PHOTO:COURTESY LINKEDIN Kellie (Mitra) Doucette Indian National Sentenced To Prison For $1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Washington Department of Health records indicate that its license as a Medical Test Site expired in December 2023. Asif is listed in fil- ings with the state and with Medicare as the owner and director of American Labworks. Claims data from April 2024 to December 2024 show that Ameri- can Labworks billed Medicare more than $8.7 million for laboratory testing services, including for COVID-19 testing. Medicare paid out over $1.1 million to the lab. Between June 2024 and March 2025, Medicare received more than 200 complaints from enrollees and others about American Labworks. Many of these complainants reported that Medicare was billed for testing that was never received. In some instances, the billing records indicated a beneficiary’s testing date of service occurred after other records indicated the beneficiary was dead. And in other instances, the physician who allegedly referred the patient for testing was dead at the time of the date of service. Financial records indicate Mohammed Asif received multiple checks and made withdrawals from the American Labworks bank ac- count, which he controlled. In May 2024, he withdrew $260,000 from the American Labworks checking account. Soon after that Asif, who had been in the U.S. on a student visa, returned to India. He came back to the U.S. in March 2025 as investigators were unraveling the fraud. Prosecutors and special agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) moved quickly to draft the criminal complaint and take Asif into custody. A grand jury then returned the indictment of Asif on April 23. Asif conspired with other people to accomplish the fraud, the Justice Department press release says, adding that the government’s investigation is ongoing. By a StaffWriter US Authorities Issue Arrest Detainer For Indian Truck Driver Involved In Oregon Accident A merican immigration officials have asked for custody of an Indian truck driver involved in a fatal motorway accident in Oregon that killed two people in the United States. Rajinder Kumar is currently lodged in Deschutes County jail as he faces criminal charges linked to the fatal accident. The US’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated that it will take steps for the custody of Kumar if he is re- leased by local authorities. US Immigration and Cus- toms Enforcement (ICE) said Kumar entered the country “illegally” through Arizona in November 2022 and was subse- quently granted work authorisa- tion and a commercial driving license by California state authorities. The case follows several simi- lar accidents involving Indian nationals driving heavy goods vehicles in America. In recent months, US authorities have highlighted at least three other fatal crashes involving undocu- mented Indian lorry drivers in Florida and California. Immigration officials say they are increasingly concerned about the number of people entering the country without proper documentation who ob- tain commercial driving licences from certain US states. In the United States, individ- ual states, rather than the fed- eral government, issue driving licences. Some states, includ- ing California, have enacted laws allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driving licences, arguing this improves road safety by ensuring all driv- ers are tested and insured. However, the issuance of commercial driving licences– which permit the operation of large trucks and coaches–to individuals without legal im- migration status has become politically contentious. The cases have become politically charged in America, with incoming administration officials criticising what they term “sanctuary” policies in certain states that limit coop- eration between local authori- ties and federal immigration enforcement. Oregon, where the latest accident occurred, has such policies in place. This means local police do not automatically detain individuals for immigra- tion violations, requiring federal authorities to take separate en- forcement action. -ANI PHOTO:US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYVIA ANI Rajinder Kumar, the accused truck driver - Continued From Page 6