>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, WE'RE TRACKING TWO MAJOR STORM SYSTEMS PUTTING TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ON ALERT. THE POWERFUL STORM FUELED BY AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER SLAMMING CALIFORNIA ON THE HEELS OF THAT RECORD SNOWFALL. POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS, HIGHWAYS SHUT DOWN, ROADS WASHED OUT. STATES OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN 34 COUNTIES. RESIDENTS ORDERED TO EVACUATE. PLUS, THE SNOW MOVING INTO THE NORTHEAST. WE'LL TIME IT OUT FOR YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE SUDDEN, STUNNING COLLAPSE OF A MAJOR U.S. BANK. SILICON VALLEY BANK NOW THE SECOND LARGEST IN U.S. HISTORY TO FAIL. WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE MONEY, AND DOES IT HINT AT A BIGGER CRISIS FOR AMERICA'S BANKS? >>> DONALD TRUMP HUDDLING WITH HIS LEGAL TEAM AFTER HE WAS INVITED TO TESTIFY ABOUT HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS TO AN ADULT FILM STAR. ARE PROSECUTORS CLOSE TO CHARGING HIM? IT COMES AS HIS POTENTIAL 2024 RIVAL RON DeSANTIS VISITS IOWA AND TAKES A VEILED SHOT AT HIM. >>> NEW TROUBLES FOR CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS. OUR CORRESPONDENT ASKING HIM ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD. >>> THE NEW DRAMATIC VIDEO, THE MURDER HISTORY ON THE SLOPES. >> Announcer: THIS IS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME, EVERYONE, ON THIS FRIDAY WHERE ONCE AGAIN CALIFORNIA IS TAKING ANOTHER POUNDING. ANOTHER MAJOR RAINMAKER RIDING ON THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER, A PHENOMENON AND TERM WE'VE ALL LEARNED MORE THAN A LITTLE ABOUT THIS WINTER. THIS LATEST STORM TAKING AIM AT THE STATE'S MIDSECTION. TONIGHT, HALF OF CALIFORNIA'S COUNTIES ARE UNDER STATES OF EMERGENCY. 17 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER FLOOD ALERTS. SOME UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTING RARE SEVERE WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING INCLUDING IN AREAS THAT AREN'T ACCUSTOMED TO THEM. PREDICTED RAIN AMOUNTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND ARE STAGGERING, 8 TO 12 INCHES ALONG THE COAST, 6 TO 9 IN THE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS AND WARM ENOUGH TO MELT THE DEEP MOUNTAIN SNOWPACKS, AND THERE IS WINTER WEATHER TROUBLE FOR MILLIONS MORE IN THE EAST TONIGHT. MIGUEL ALMAGUER LEADS OUR COVERAGE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THIS IS THE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING SWALLOWING NEIGHBORHOODS AND WASHING AWAY HOMES. IN CITIES LIKE SPRINGVILLE, WIDESPREAD EVACUATION ORDERS ARE NOW UNDER WAY. >> IT'S CRAZY. I NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS. >> Reporter: THIS THE FIRST OF TWO POWERFUL ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS DOUSING WATERLOGGED CALIFORNIA TRIGGERING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN 34 COUNTIES. THE NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYING TO THE HARDEST HIT REGIONS AS THIS UNRIVALED, UNPARALLELED WEATHER EVENT WASHES ACROSS THE STATE. >> IF YOU'RE TOLD TO EVACUATE, PLEASE DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH BARRICADES OR ROAD CLOSURES. >> Reporter: WITH HIGHWAYS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDERWATER OR COVERED IN SNOW AND ICE, RIVERS AND CREEKS ARE RAGING. NEAR SANTA CRUZ HUNDREDS OF HOMES ARE CUT OFF AFTER A CONNECTING ROAD WASHED AWAY. >> WE'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS, AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING TO THIS EXTENT. >> Reporter: TODAY THE PRESIDENT APPROVING AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE AFTER A SERIES OF STORMS AND AT LEAST TWO DEATHS. AS MAJOR DAMS OPEN THEIR SPILLWAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS TO MITIGATE FLOOD CONTROL, TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE LOST POWER. MANY SUFFERING DAMAGE. UP TO 12 INCHES OF RAIN COULD DROP. THE PINEAMPLE EXPRESS FUNNELING WARM MOISTURE FROM HAWAII UNLEASHING A WATER HOSE ON CALIFORNIA. THE RAIN COULD MELT THE HISTORIC SNOWPACK WHERE AVALANCHES AND FLASH FLOODING ARE SOME OF THE WORRIES. >> THE POWER BEING OFF HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: TODAY'S SNOW ALSO MAKING TRAVEL TREACHEROUS IN STATES LIKE IOWA AND MICHIGAN WITH SOME 20 MILLION ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNDER WINTER WEATHER ALERTS, BUT TONIGHT IT'S CALIFORNIA FACING THE WRATH OF ANOTHER ATMOSPHERIC RIVER AND THE FURY OF FLOODING. >> MIGUEL, CLEARLY A LOT OF DAMAGE. WHAT'S THE LATEST ON EVACUATIONS AND THE STATUS OF FLOODWATERS? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, MORE RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST, BUT THE FLOODWATERS SHOULD RECEDE BEFORE THE NEXT MAJOR STORM ROLLS IN. ON THIS BLOCK ALONE THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS THEY RESCUED MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE WORRIED THERE WILL BE MORE RESCUES THROUGH THE NIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT, MIGUEL. THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> LET'S GET TO BILL KARINS TRACKING MULTIPLE STORMS FOR US TONIGHT. >> GOOD EVENING, LESTER. THE HEAVIEST RAINS ARE FROM SANTA BARBARA TO LOS ANGELES. WE'LL GET ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT MOST WILL BE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE STILL HAVE NUMEROUS FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND A COUPLE OF FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCIES NOW, SO WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE WITH THIS DAMAGE FROM THIS STORM. OVER THE WEEKEND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL SEE SOME OF THE HEAVIER TOTALS AND ISOLATED MUDSLIDES AND FLASH FLOODING, AND WE'RE STILL ADDING FEET AT THE HIGHEST OF ELEVATIONS TOO. ANOTHER 1 TO 4 FEET OF SNOW OVER THE WEEKEND. JUST UNIMAGINABLE HOW HIGH THE SNOWBANKS ARE. AND THEN TUESDAY, THIS IS THE NEXT ATMOSPHERIC RIVER, NOT QUITE AS STRONG AS THIS ONE BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT. THEN HEADING TO THE EAST, SNOW TONIGHT IN AREAS OF THE CATSKILLS WHERE THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS WILL BE. THE BIG CITIES REALLY MISSED OUT ON THIS MOSTLY JUST RAIN. LESTER, WE'LL END ON THIS, TUESDAY NEXT WEEK THE FIRST NOR'EASTER OF THE WINTER IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, ONE TO TWO FEET IN INTERIOR AREAS. >> WE'LL PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR. BILL KARINS, THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> NOW TO THE U.S. ECONOMY. THE U.S. ADDED 311,000 JOBS LAST MONTH, DOWN FROM JANUARY, THOUGH A SIGN THE ECONOMY IS STILL RUNNING HOT. UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE SLIGHTLY TO 3.6%, BUT IT WAS THE SHUTDOWN OF A MAJOR BANK THAT GRABBED HEADLINES TODAY AND RATTLED MARKETS. SILICON VALLEY BANK BECOMING THE SECOND LARGEST BANK FAILURE IN U.S. HISTORY. HERE'S CNC'S DEIRDRE BOSA. >> Reporter: ALARM OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS OF SILICON VALLEY BANK IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, TODAY. >> THEY CAME OUT AND TOLD US THE BANK IS SHUT DOWN. >> Reporter: SVB, THE 16th LARGEST BANK IN THE U.S. WITH $175 BILLION IN DEPOSITS IS NOW THE BIGGEST AMERICAN BANK TO FAIL SINCE THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS. ITS CUSTOMERS ARE PRIMARILY BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS IN THE TECH SECTOR. >> THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HERE WAS A SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES. WHICH THAT PART OF THE JOB OF A BANK IS TO MANAGE INTEREST RATE RISK, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. >> Reporter: EARLIER SVB DISCLOSED IT TOOK A LOSS ON THE SALE OF BONDS DUE TO RISING INTEREST RATES AND ANNOUNCED IT WOULD SELL SHARES TO SHORE UP ITS BALANCE SHEET. ITS STOCK PRICE PLUGGED, AND CUSTOMERS RETURNED TO TAKE THEIR MONEY OUT. THE FDIC STEPPING IN TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS FUNDS BY MONDAY, BUT THE GUARANTEED AMOUNT PER DEPOSITOR, $250,000. >> A HEART-STOPPING MOMENT OF THIS BANK IS DONE. >> Reporter: ASHLEY IS THE CEO OF HEALTH CARE START-UP FARMBOXRX. UNABLE TO ACCESS HER MONEY TODAY, SHE FEARS SHE COULD BE OUT MORE THAN $10 MILLION. >> $250,000 ISN'T A TON OF MONEY TO US WHEN YOU'RE TALKING OF EIGHT FIGURES THAT'S IN THE BANK CURRENTLY. >> Reporter: CONCERN OVER TODAY'S COLLAPSE OF SVB DROVE WALL STREET LOWER. THE BANKING SECTOR ALONE DOWN MORE THAN 4%. TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN -- >> THERE ARE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT CONCERN A FEW BANKS THAT I'M MONITORING VERY CAREFULLY. >> Reporter: THE IMMEDIATE CONCERN, THE CASH BURNING START-UPS WHO HAVE MILLIONS IN SVB AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE MONEY THEY NEED TO PAY BILLS OR MAKE PAYROLL. >> DEIRDRE, GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, HOW MUCH CONCERN IS THERE ABOUT THE BANKING SECTOR OVERALL? >> Reporter: LESTER, AT THIS POINT TO THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS CONTAINED TO THIS ONE BANK. SVB WAS SO HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THESE START-UP TECH COMPANIES, THAT ITS BUSINESS MODEL PUT IT IN A RISKY POSITION THAT THE MAJOR BANKS DON'T FACE IN THE SAME WAY, LESTER. >> DEIRDRE BOSA, THANK YOU. >>> NEWS TONIGHT THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS MEETING WITH HIS LEGAL TEAM THIS WEEKEND IN FLORIDA AMID NEW SIGNS PROSECUTORS HERE IN NEW YORK MIGHT BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM AS A POTENTIAL TOP 2024 CHALLENGER TO MR. TRUMP MADE AN APPEARANCE IN IOWA TODAY. KRISTEN WELKER HAS LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, SIGNS OF GROWING LEGAL TROUBLES FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED HIS LEGAL TEAM IS MEETING WITH HIM THIS WEEKEND AND HAS CONFIRMED MR. TRUMP HAS BEEN TOLD HE CAN TESTIFY BEFORE A GRAND JURY IN NEW YORK AS A PART OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO HUSH MONEY PAID TO AN ADULT FILM STAR. NO INDICATION IF HE WILL COMPLY, BUT LEGAL ANALYSTS SAY SUCH AN INVITATION INDICATES THE INVESTIGATION IS NEAR ITS END AND COULD BE A SIGN PROSECUTORS ARE CONSIDERING CHARGES. MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS TOLD NBC NEWS HE WAS NOT TOLD CHARGES WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, MR. TRUMP SAYING OVERNIGHT HE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT BLASTED THE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ATTORNEY ACCUSING PROSECUTORS OF A WITCH-HUNT. WHILE TONIGHT IN IOWA INDICATIONS MR. TRUMP COULD SOON BE GETTING A NEW CHALLENGER. >> I BRING GREETINGS FROM THE FREE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> Reporter: FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS HAS NOT OFFICIALLY MADE A DECISION YET, BUT ACCORDING TO "THE WASHINGTON POST," CITING TWO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH DeSANTIS' COMMENTS, HE'S INDICATED PRIVATELY THAT HE INTENDS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. DeSANTIS SOUNDING EVERY BIT LIKE A CANDIDATE ALREADY. >> WE WILL NEVER EVER SURRENDER TO THE WOKE MOB. OUR STATE IS WHERE WOKE GOES TO DIE. >> Reporter: AND TAKING A NOT SO VEILED SWIPE AT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, FELLOW FLORIDIAN, FOR THEIR HANDLING OF THE COVID CRISIS. DeSANTIS EMPHASIZING HE ENDED COVID RESTRICTIONS IN FLORIDA EARLIER THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> THE STATE OF FLORIDA STOOD AS A REFUGE OF SANITY, AND WE WERE RIGHT, AND THEY WERE WRONG. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP IS STILL DOMINANT AMONG IOWA REPUBLICANS, BUT THERE ARE SIGNS VOTERS ARE OPEN TO NEW OPTIONS. IN A NEW POLL, TRUMP'S NUMBERS HAVE DIPPED. ONLY 47% OF REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WOULD DEFINITELY VOTE FOR HIM IF HE WERE THE GOP NOMINEE, DOWN FROM 69% IN JUNE OF 2021. >> KRISTEN, I KNOW ANOTHER HEADLINE YOU'RE WATCHING TONIGHT, A RARE UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE NOW CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLASSIFY INTELLIGENCE ON THE ORIGINS OF COVID. >> Reporter: LESTER, THAT'S RIGHT, AND TONIGHT I ASKED THE PRESIDENT IF HE PLANS TO SIGN THAT BILL. HE SAID HE HASN'T MADE A DECISION YET. ALL OF IT COMES AFTER THE FBI AND ENERGY DEPARTMENT ASSESSED COVID CAME FROM A LAB LEAK IN CHINA, THOUGH THERE'S NO GOVERNMENT CONSENSUS ON THE ORIGINS YET. LESTER. >>> KRISTEN WELKER, THANK YOU. >>> THERE IS A HEALTH UPDATE ON TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN MITCH McCONNELL, WHO REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AFTER SUFFERING A CONCUSSION FOLLOWING A FALL AT A PRIVATE DINNER. AN AIDE NOW SAYING THE 81-YEAR-OLD IS DOING WELL, HAS BEEN WALKING AROUND, AND IS EAGER TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND RETURN TO WORK. >>> A NEW ALLEGATION AGAINST EMBATTLED CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS. A FORMER ROOMMATE IS ACCUSING THE NEW YORK REPUBLICAN OF BEING PART OF A CREDIT CARD FRAUD SCAM. RYAN NOBLES PRESS THE SANTOS ABOUT THE NEW CLAIMS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT EMBATTLED CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS DENYING YET ANOTHER ALLEGATION. >> INNOCENT, NEVER DID ANYTHING OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND NO MASTERMIND OF ANYTHING. >> Reporter: IN A NEW STATEMENT POLITICO OBTAINED FROM A FORMER ASSOCIATE OF SANTOS, GUSTAVO TRELHA SAYS HE COLLABORATED WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ON A CREDIT CARD SKIMMING SCHEME AND WROTE IN A DECLARATION THAT HE SUBMITTED REPORTS TO THE FBI AND CIA THAT HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SKIM CARD INFORMATION AND HOW TO CLONE CARDS. THE FBI DECLINED TO COMMENT. SECRET SERVICE CONFIRMED THEY RECEIVED THE DECLARATION. HE PLED GUILTY TO FELONY ACCESS TO DEVICE FRAUD, WAS DEPORTED TO BRAZIL. SANTOS CLAIMED HE WAS AN INFORMANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT. >> I WAS AN ASSET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SEATTLE. I ASSISTED THEM WITH THE CASE. >>> >> Reporter: THE FBI FIELD OFFICE IN SEATTLE TELLS NBC NEWS THEY DO NOT COMMENT ON THE ROLES OF INFORMANTS IN THAT INVESTIGATION. SANTOS WAS INTERVIEWED BY INVESTIGATORS AND APPEARED IN COURT. >> SO YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BY LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU WON'T BE CHARGED IN THIS CASE? >> I DIDN'T SAY THAT. HOLD ON. WHAT I SAID WAS, I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THE CASE. WE WERE GOING OVER THE CASE YESTERDAY. I HAVEN'T BEEN GUARANTEED ANYTHING, BUT I'M VERY CONFIDENT I CAN FIGHT THIS ONE. >> Reporter: THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO A NUMBER OF ASPECTS AROUND SANTOS' BACKGROUND. IF THEY FIND ANY WRONGDOING, IT COULD LEAD TO A CRIMINAL REFERRAL OR EVEN EXPULSION FROM CONGRESS. LESTER. >> RYAN NOBLES ON CAPITOL HILL, THANK YOU. >>> TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BRAZEN ESCAPE CAUGHT ON CAMERA NEAR PORTLAND, OREGON. A MURDER SUSPECT BOLTING OUT OF THE COURTROOM AFTER DEPUTIES UNSHACKLED HIM RUNNING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND OUT OF THE BUILDING. AFTER A TWO-HOUR MANHUNT, AUTHORITIES SAY THEY FOUND HIM HIDING IN THE CLOSET OF AN APARTMENT HE APPARENTLY BROKE INTO. HE NOW FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES. >>> IN 60 SECONDS THE NEW FAST-ACTIN >>> BACK NOW WITH NEW HOPE FOR THE NEARLY 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES. THE FDA APPROVING PFIZER'S FAST-ACTING NASAL STRAY AND SAYS IT CAN PROVIDE RELIEF AS QUICKLY AS 30 MINUTES. PFIZER SAYS THE SPRAY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN PHARMACIES BEGINNING IN JULY. THERE'S NO WORD YET ON THE COST. >>> AND THERE IS WORD TONIGHT ABOUT ANOTHER DRUG SHORTAGE, THIS TIME IMPACTING A COMMONLY USED ASTHMA MEDICATION. SOME PARENTS NOW FEARING IT COULD ENDANGER THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN. WE GET MORE FROM KRISTEN DAHLGREN. >> Reporter: WHEN 2-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS D'AMBROSIO DEVELOPED A BACTERIAL INFECTION LAST FALL HIS PARENTS RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. >> IF IT HAD GONE ON TOO LONG, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED THIS BRAIN DAMAGE. >> Reporter: ALBUTEROL RESTORED HIS BREATHING. MANY OTHERS WERE SENT HOME WITH A NEBULIZER THAT TURNS THE LIQUID ALBUTEROL INTO AN AEROSOL SO HE COULD BREATHE AND KEEP IT ON HAND FOR EMERGENCIES. WHEN ONE OF TWO MANUFACTURERS THAT MAKES THAT LIQUID FORM CLOSED LAST WEEK, THE FAMILY BEGAN TO WORRY. >> IT'S TERRIFYING. >> I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I WOULD LIKE HAVE TO RATION IT AND THEN HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL LIKE HOW SERIOUS IS THIS? IT'S REALLY BAD. >> Reporter: ALREADY DR. JUANITA MORA HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE LIQUID FORM OF ALBUTEROL FOR OVER A MONTH. >> THE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SHORTAGE ARE GOING TO BE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES, WHO CAN'T HAVE GOOD TECHNIQUE WITH AN INHALER. OLDER ADULTS AND THEN THOSE WHO ARE VERY SICK. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS PHARMACIES HAVE STARTED DIVERTING SUPPLIES TO EMERGENCY ROOMS. PATIENTS BEING TOLD TO GO TO HOSPITALS IN A FLARE-UP INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND DOSES TO USE AT HOME. >> WE CAN'T HORDE MEDICATION. WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE SUPPLIES TO GET TO THE SICKEST PATIENTS AT THIS TIME. >> Reporter: INHALERS OF ALBUTEROL ARE NOT IMPACTED AND THE REMAINING MANUFACTURER OF THE LIQUID FORM SAYS IT IS TRYING TO MEET DEMAND, BUT FOR THE SMALLEST PATIENTS, MANY WORRY THERE COULD BE BIG PROBLEMS IF MORE MEDICATION ISN'T AVAILABLE SOON. KRISTEN DAHLGREN, NBC NEWS. >>> THERE'S MORE TO TELL YOU ABOUT TONIGHT. COMING UP, HOW SCAMMERS ARE STEALING TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. WE LOOK AT THE SCHEMES IN OUR CNBC INVESTIGATION UP NEXT. >>> WHILE WASHINGTON ARGUES OVER HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, FRAUDSTERS ARE STEALING STAGGERING AMOUNTS ALLOCATED FOR HEALTH CARE AND COSTING TAXPAYERS BILLIONS. A CNBC INVESTIGATION FOUND THE SYSTEM RIDDLED WITH ABUSE AND EASILY EXPLOITED. HERE'S CONTESSA BREWER. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE FACE OF HEALTH CARE FRAUD. A MIAMI BUSINESSMAN COUNTING STOLEN MEDICARE MONEY IN THIS VIDEO SECRETLY RECORDED BY A GOVERNMENT INFORMANT. THE SCHEME SPANNING FROM SHAM STOREFRONTS TO EMPTY OFFICES BILLING THE GOVERNMENT. >> WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OVER TO A DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY. >> Reporter: OMAR PEREZ AYBAR IS THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND TOOK US ON A RARE RIDE ALONG TO SHOW US HOW THE FRAUD WORKS. SCAMMERS FIRST BUY LISTS WITH PATIENTS AND DOCTORS' PERSONAL DATA. >> AND WITH THOSE TWO KEY PIECES OF INFORMATION, THEY CAN JUST START SUBMITTING CLAIMS TO MEDICARE. >> Reporter: ESTIMATED MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FRAUD TOPS $100 BILLION ANNUALLY. HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, PEREZ AYBAR SHOWS US A STOREFRONT USED TO STEAL $48 MILLION IN A SINGLE YEAR. THE MASTERMIND, THE MAN COUNTING THE MONEY. JESUS GARCES WHO PLED GUILT TO HEALTH CARE AND WIRE FRAUD NORFOLK SOUTHERN 2021 WAS SENTENCED TO TIME IN PRISON. WE'RE AT THE MIAMI MERCHANDISE MART WHICH AGENTS T HOTBED FOR FAKE COMPANIES SET UP TO BILL MEDICARE. >> MOST TIMES WE SHOW UP, THERE'S NOBODY THERE, OR IF THERE IS SOMEONE THERE, THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT BUSINESS THEY ARE REPRESENTING OR HOW IT EVEN OPERATES. >> Reporter: THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN BILLING MEDICARE FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES DEVICES LIKE WHEELCHAIRS AND BRACES. I'M WITH CNBC. WHAT IS THIS BUSINESS? THE WOMAN INSIDE SAID IT'S A MEDICAL SUPPLY STORE, BUT SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL BUSINESS. SHE GIVES US A NUMBER FOR THE OWNER. I CALL. BUT IT RINGS AT THE DESK INSIDE. HI, THIS IS CONTESSA BREWER FROM CNBC. WE JUST TALKED A MINUTE AGO. WE EVENTUALLY REACH THE OWNER WEEKS LATER. HE SAYS THE EQUIPMENT IS ORDERED THROUGH ANOTHER COMPANY AFTER THE PATIENT SEES A DOCTOR. HE REFUSES TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION. GOVERNMENT RECORDS SHOW THE COMPANY HAS BILLED MORE THAN $2 MILLION TO MEDICARE, MOSTLY FOR WOUND CARE. >> SOUTH FLORIDA WITHOUT QUESTION IS THE GROUND ZERO FOR HEALTH CARE FRAUD, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE STATE. THERE ARE 49 OTHERS AND TERRITORIES WHERE THESE TYPES OF SCHEMES ARE OCCURRING. >> Reporter: A BUSINESS, HE SAYS, THAT'S NEVER BEEN AS FOR HERSELF. ANNE THOMPSON, NBC NEWS. >>> AND THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." ON MONDAY TUNE IN FOR MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK. HIS FIRST U.S. BROADCAST INTERVIEW SINCE TAKING OFFICE LAST FALL. AMONG THE ISSUES, TENSIONS WITH CHINA AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD N