FEDS: Cemhan Birick Part Of $500M COVID-19 Testing Scheme.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A federal trial for Boca Bridges resident Cemhan Biricik and alleged co-conspirator Martin Perlin has been pushed back until the summer of 2026 to give attorneys more time to sift through evidence and discuss potential plea agreements. Originally slated to begin on January 21, the proceedings have now been rescheduled for June following a joint request from both the government and the defense. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy signed the order Friday, acknowledging that the complexity of the case requires a significant amount of preparation. BocaNewsNow.com obtained a copy of the order.
Biricik is accused of orchestrating a massive $500M COVID-19 testing scheme that bilked Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance providers. An FBI raid of Biricik’s Boca Birdges home took place months ago. Read our previous coverage here. As we reported, Birick purchased the multi-million dollar home, and an airplane, after declaring bankruptcy in the months before the alleged COVID-19 testing scheme was launched.
The new schedule sets the jury trial for June 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.. A final pretrial conference and plea cutoff date have also been established for May 13. Attorneys on both sides agreed that the delay is necessary because the case involves a massive amount of electronic data and “myriad documents” that still need to be reviewed. Under the Speedy Trial Act, the court found that the need for effective preparation outweighs the interests of a speedier trial.
Beyond the trial date, the court also rescheduled several specific motion hearings. A hearing for Biricik regarding the seizure of assets was moved to January 26, while a hearing for Perlin concerning his release conditions was pushed to February 10. Notably, the court is permitting Biricik to travel to Michigan via commercial airline specifically to attend his upcoming hearing, though all other conditions of his bond remain strictly in effect.
Legal teams for the defendants and the government continue to explore the possibility of a “negotiated resolution” of the charges before the case ever reaches a jury. The parties stated that the additional time will allow them to review new discovery materials recently provided by the government. If no plea deal is reached by the May deadline, the parties indicated they will use the extra months to ensure they are fully prepared for the complex trial ahead.
