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May 2012

May 16, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Houston-Area Nurse Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Role in $5.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - A Houston-area nurse was sentenced today in Houston for her participation in a $5.2 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Service.
May 16, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: Local Dentist/Orthodontist Couple Convicted of Making False Statements on Bills to Texas Medicaid
LAREDO, Texas - Local dentist Dr. Carlos Armin Morales-Ryan, 45, and his wife local orthodontist Dr. Nelia Patricia Garcia-Morales, 42, have pleaded guilty to a criminal information admitting they made false statements on bills to Texas Medicaid, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
May 15, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania: United States Settled With Temple University and Dr. Joseph Kubacki Over Improper Billing
PHILADELPHIA - Dr. Joseph Kubacki and Temple University - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education ("Temple") have agreed to pay the United States a combined $1,088,574.93, resolving Temple's voluntary disclosure that it improperly billed the United States for medical services provided by residents but that Temple billed as though they had been performed by attending physicians.
May 15, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Ambulance Company Worker Sentenced To Prison Term for Fraud Scheme
PHILADELPHIA - Ivan Tkach, 30, of Newtown, PA, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and the U.S. Government.
May 14, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: South Texas Couple Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud
HOUSTON - Michael Giventer, 53, formerly of Brownsville, Texas, has just pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Giventer's wife, Julia Shavabskaya, 40, currently residing in Florida, also pleaded guilty to the same charge on April 30, 2012.
May 11, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts: New York Man Convicted for Health Care Fraud
BOSTON - A New York man was convicted today in federal court for committing health care fraud. Michael J. McKay, 32, of Saratoga Springs, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper to committing health care fraud.
May 11, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Maryland: NIH Employee Pleads Guilty To Using Government Credit Cards to Make Purchases for Her
Personal Use
Baltimore, Maryland - Tamia M. McCoy, age 32, of Germantown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property and money, in connection with her use of government credit cards to make unauthorized purchases of goods and services for her personal use.
May 11, 2012: U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Michigan: Detroit-area Physician Convicted in $6.7 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
A federal jury sitting in Detroit, Michigan, convicted a Detroit area physician for his role in a $6.7 million Medicare Fraud scheme, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Health and Human Services announced today.
May 9, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida: Occupational Therapy Assistant Sentenced For Medicare And Medicaid Fraud
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces today that United States District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich sentenced Patrick Timothy Crisler (46, Inverness) to 30 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. The court also ordered Crisler to forfeit $455,537.30, which are proceeds traceable to his offense.
May 8, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Doctor and Home Health Agency Owner Plead Guilty in Connection with Detroit Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - Detroit-area residents Zahir Yousafzai and Dr. Dwight Smith pleaded guilty yesterday for their roles in a $13.8 million home health care fraud and money laundering scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
May 8, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Connecticut: Father of Four Admits Failing to Pay Child Support for Nearly 20 Years
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that William Anthony Robson, also known as Rick Albrecht, 53, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport to one count of failure to pay a legal child support obligation.
May 7, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Texas: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Owner of Local Durable Medical Equipment Company on Health Care Fraud Charges
DALLAS - Philip Odoemena, 59, the owner/operator/administrator of Kingsway Medical Systems, Inc., has been charged in a federal indictment with felony offenses related to a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Odoemena appeared Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez, who ordered him detained pending trial.
May 7, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Abbott Labs to Pay $1.5 Billion to Resolve Criminal & Civil Investigations of Off-label Promotion of Depakote
Global Health Care Company Abbott Laboratories Inc. has pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $1.5 billion to resolve its criminal and civil liability arising from the company's unlawful promotion of the prescription drug Depakote for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration, the Justice Department announced today. The resolution - the second largest payment by a drug company - includes a criminal fine and forfeiture totaling $700 million and civil settlements with the federal government and the states totaling $800 million. Abbott also will be subject to court-supervised probation and reporting obligations for Abbott's CEO and Board of Directors.
May 4, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Recovers $11.75 Million In Medicare False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Lenox Hill Hospital
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has filed and simultaneously settled a civil health care fraud lawsuit against Lenox Hill Hospital.
May 3, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Tennessee: Apex Medical Group Will Pay $4.36 Million to Resolve Federal & State Health Care Fraud Investigation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A settlement was finalized this week with Apex Medical Group, P.C., d.b.a. Nephrology Consultants, a local nephrology physician practice group, and certain affiliated dialysis centers in Knox and surrounding counties. Apex Medical Group (Apex) agreed to pay $4.36 million to settle alleged violations of the federal False Claims Act, the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of New York: Delinquent Doctor Finally Repays Student Loan
Catskill area optometrist pays $120,000.00 Albany, New York- United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced that his office has reached a settlement with Dr. Christine Scrodanus, a Catskill, New York optometrist, for $120,000.00. The settlement was in connection with a defaulted Health Education Assistance Loan.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Michigan: 22 Detroit-area Residents Charged in Nationwide Medicare Fraud Strike Force Takedown
DETROIT - Twenty-two Detroit-area residents were charged today for their roles in psychotherapy, home health care and infusion therapy schemes to submit more than $58 million in false billing to Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. Including these charges, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in Detroit have charged a total of 164 individuals in cases involving approximately $244 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Central District of California: 8 Los Angeles-Area Residents Charged In Nationwide Medicare Fraud Strike Force Takedown
LOS ANGELES- Eight Los Angeles-area residents, including two doctors, were charged today for their roles in schemes to submit more than $14 million in false billing to Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).
May 2 , 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Alabama: Lauderdale County Doctor Indicted for Health Care Fraud and Wire Fraud
BIRMINGHAM - A federal grand jury today indicted a Lauderdale County physician for fraud totaling about $1.3 million in connection to billing a health insurer and Medicare for non-reimbursable cosmetic skin treatments, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Illinois: Chicago Area Man Charged In $1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
CHICAGO - A south suburban resident who purported to provide psychotherapy services to Medicare patients was charged with participating in a $1 million health care fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services announced today.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida: Fifty-Nine South Florida Residents Charged as Part of Nationwide Coordinated Takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operations
Miami - Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, announced that fifty-nine (59) South Florida residents were charged for their alleged participation in various schemes to defraud Medicare out of more than $137 million.
May 2, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services: Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges 107 Individuals for Approximately $452 Million in False Billing
Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities has resulted in charges against 107 individuals, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $452 million in false billing.
May 1, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of California: Psychiatric Solutions Inc. and Universal Health Services Inc. Agree to Jointly Pay $3.45 Million to Settle Allegations of Fraud
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Psychiatric Solutions Inc. (PSI) and Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS) have agreed to jointly pay $3.45 million to the United States to settle allegations that subsidiary BHC Sierra Vista Hospital Inc. defrauded the Medicare program. PSI owned Sierra Vista when the alleged conduct occurred; UHS acquired PSI and subsidiary Sierra Vista in November of 2010 and is jointly responsible according to the purchase arrangement.

April 2012

April 25, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts: Three Charged with Making False Statements to Medicaid
BOSTON - Three Boston individuals were charged today in federal court with making false statements to Medicaid, a federal agency, in order to obtain benefits to which they were not entitled.
April 26, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: McKesson Corp. Pays U.S. More Than $190 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
McKesson Corporation has agreed to pay the United States more than $190 million to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by reporting inflated pricing information for a large number of prescription drugs, causing Medicaid to overpay for those drugs.
April 25, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of North Carolina: Alleghany Co. Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Conspiracy and Money
Laundering Conspiracy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - An Alleghany Co. woman charged with health care fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy has pled guilty to those charges today, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
April 25, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Three Operators of Miami Home Health Company Sentenced in $60 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - Three operators of a Miami health care agency were sentenced today to 120, 87 and 87 months in prison, respectively, for their participation in a $60 million home health Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
April 24, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida: Owners and Operators of Physical Therapy Clinics Charged in Multi- Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of a thirty-count indictment charging Luis Duluc (51, formerly of Weston, Florida), and Margarita Grishkoff (57, Charlotte, North Carolina) with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and additional substantive counts of health care fraud, making false statements related to a health care matter, and aggravated identity theft.
April 24, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: Owner of Med-Quick Diagnostics Convicted In Illegal Kickback Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - The owner of an area medical supply and diagnostic testing company has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
April 24, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: DME Operator Convicted In Illegal Kickback Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - The owner of an area medical supply company has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
April 23, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of New Jersey: Ocean County, N.J., Man Sentenced To Four Years in Prison for Posing As Licensed Physician in Medicare Fraud Scheme
TRENTON, N.J. - A Toms River, N.J. man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for unlawfully treating patients, prescribing medicine and ordering procedures while posing as a licensed physician with an Ocean County medical practice in a Medicare fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
April 20, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Walgreens Pharmacy Chain Pays $7.9 Million to Resolve False Prescription Billing Case
Walgreens, an Illinois-based corporation operating a national retail pharmacy chain, has paid the United States and participating states $7.9 million to resolve allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.
April 20, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Illinois: Home Health Care Administrator Pleads Guilty To Federal Health Care Fraud And Kickback Scheme
ROCKFORD - An Elmhurst, Ill., woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Rockford, before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala, to healthcare fraud and kickback violations. Merigrace Orillo, 45, co-owned and operated Chalice Home Healthcare Services, Inc., with her husband Virgilio Orillo. Chalice had offices in Chicago, Freeport, and Morris, Illinois. Orillo admitted that her fraud scheme caused a loss of more than $400,000 to the Medicare program.
April 19, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts: U.S. Pharmaceutical Company Merck Sharp & Dohme Sentenced in Connection with Unlawful Promotion of Vioxx®
BOSTON - American pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to pay a criminal fine in the amount of $321,636,000 in connection with its guilty plea related to its promotion and marketing of the painkiller Vioxx® (rofecoxib). In December 2011, Merck pleaded guilty to violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) for introducing a misbranded drug, Vioxx®, into interstate commerce.
April 19, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: Recruiters Charged in Multi-Million Dollar City Nursing Scheme
HOUSTON - Floyd Leslie Brooks, 45, Gwendolyn Kay Frank, 43, both of Houston, have been charged with conspiracy to violation the Anti-Kickback Statue, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The charges are in relation to the massive health care fraud conspiracy that billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than $45 million.
April 19, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Columbia: Medicare Recipient Sentenced For Health Care Fraud
WASHINGTON - Walt R. Wilson, 42, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to six months of home detention after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of health care fraud stemming from a scheme involving more than $71,000 in fraudulent Medicare payments.
April 18, 2012; U.S. Attorney's Office; Eastern District of Louisiana: Metairie Doctor Sentenced for Receiving Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Health Care Fraud
NEW ORLEANS-Dan Joachim, M.D., age 52, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced today to serve six years in prison before U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman after previously pleading guilty as charged to receiving materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors and health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Joachim was further ordered to repay $5,000 in restitution and sentenced to five years of supervised release after his term of imprisonment ends. Physicians Analytical Services Inc. (PAS) a Maryland corporation that pleaded guilty to the same count of health care fraud was sentenced to repay $500,000 in restitution and was also placed on one year of probation.
April 18, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Detroit-Area Patient Recruiter Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud
WASHINGTON - A Detroit-area patient recruiter pleaded guilty today for his participation in a Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
April 13, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Tennessee: AmMed Direct, LLC, to Pay $18 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
AmMed Direct, LLC, has agreed to pay the United States and the State of Tennessee $18 million to settle False Claims Act allegations, announced Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
April 11, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida: Miami Doctor Convicted on Health Care Fraud and Oxycodone Trafficking Charges
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced that, after a five day trial, a Miami federal jury found Frank J. Ballesteros, M.D., of Miami, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and oxymorphone, possession of oxycodone and oxymorphone with intent to distribute those drugs, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
April 10, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Dallas-Based Tenet Healthcare Pays More Than $42 Million to Settle Allegations Of Improperly Billing Medicare
WASHINGTON- Tenet Healthcare Corporation has agreed to pay the United States $42.75 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overbilling the federal Medicare program, the Justice Department announced today.
April 9, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts: Former Vice-President of Medical Device Company Convicted of Violating Anti-Kickback Law
BOSTON - The former vice-president of a medical device company was convicted today in federal court with violating the Anti-Kickback law. Thomas P. Guerrieri, 51, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel for violating the Anti-Kickback statute. Guerrieri was the former vice-president of sales at a medical device company that sold bone growth stimulators.
April 9, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of New Jersey: Randolph, N.J., Otolaryngologist Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Health Care Fraud
NEWARK, N.J. - A North Caldwell, N.J., doctor was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in defrauding Blue Cross Blue Shield of more than $725,000 by submitting false claims for services he never performed, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Ohio: Chiropractor Indicted For Defrauding Health Care Insurers
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today a federal indictment was filed charging chiropractor John N. Heary with thirty eight counts of health care fraud, nine counts of mail fraud, and eight counts of paying illegal kickbacks in connection with the operation of his corporations HealthSource of Medina and Medina Health and Wellness Center, Inc.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Florida-Based Wellcare Health Plans Agrees to Pay $137.5 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
WASHINGTON - WellCare Health Plans Inc. will pay $137.5 million to the federal government and nine states to resolve four lawsuits alleging violations of the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today. WellCare, based in Tampa, Fla., provides managed health care services for approximately 2.6 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Georgia-Based Radiation Oncology Practice to Pay $3.8 Million to Settle False Claims Act Case
WASHINGTON - Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia LLC, a radiation oncology practice, and its affiliates RCOG Cancer Centers LLC, Physician Oncology Services Management Company LLC, Frank A. Critz, M.D. and Physician Oncology Services L.P. (collectively, RCOG) agreed to pay $3.8 million to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today. RCOG, which is located in Decatur, Ga., allegedly billed Medicare for medical treatment that they provided to prostate cancer patients in excess of those permitted by Medicare rules and for services that were not medically necessary.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Miami-Area Assisted Living Facility Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Kickback Scheme
WASHINGTON - The owner of a Miami-area assisted living facility pleaded guilty yesterday for her role in a kickback scheme that funneled patients to a fraudulent mental health provider, American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC), announced the Department of Justice, FBI and Department of Health and Human Services
April 3, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas: New Defendant Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Case
HOUSTON - Tony Nnonso Obi, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been charged in a 20-count indictment for his role in a massive health care fraud conspiracy that billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than $45 million, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Georgia: Atlanta Man Convicted of Billing $32.9 Million for Worthless Services While Operating "Horrendous" Nursing Homes
ROME, GA - George Dayln Houser, 63, of Atlanta, has been convicted on charges of conspiring with his wife to defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs by billing them for "worthless services" in the operation of three deficient nursing homes between July 2004 and September 2007. Medicare and Medicaid paid Houser more than $32.9 million during that time for food, medical care, and other services for nursing home residents that he either did not provide, or that were so deficient that they were worthless.
April 3, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of South Dakota: Okreek Woman Charged with False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Okreek, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud.
April 2, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Two Owners and Two Employees of Miami Home Health Company Plead Guilty in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - Two owners and two employees of a Miami home health care agency pleaded guilty for their participation in a $20 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false billings for home health care services, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
April 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of South Dakota: Hudson Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Tylese Rodriquez, a/k/a Tylese Marie Pearson, age 32, of Hudson, South Dakota, appeared before US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on March 30, 2012, and pled guilty to count 2 of an indictment that charged her with Health Care Fraud.

March 2012

March 30, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - A Miami-area resident pleaded guilty today for his role in structuring monetary transactions to provide cash for the furtherance of a fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 30, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Iowa: Centerville Woman Charged With Over $700,000 of Health Care Fraud
DES MOINES, IA - On March 29, 2012, Angela Shae Ellison, age 45, of Centerville, Iowa, made her initial appearance in federal court on charges of committing over $700,000 of fraud against Medicaid, WellMark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Health through false billing, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Klinefeldt.
March 30, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Indiana: Hogsett Announces Indictment of Hamilton County Man on Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering Charges
INDIANAPOLIS-Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that Donald Hamilton, age 49, of Carmel, has been charged by federal indictment with one count of health care fraud, five counts of false statements in a health care matter, and two counts of money laundering, all of which is alleged to have resulted in a loss to Hoosier taxpayers of more than $1 million.
March 29, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Maine: Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration and Fraud Charges
Portland, Maine - United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that Mohdi M. Ali, also known as Mahdi M. Ali, age 56, of Lewiston, Maine, pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court in Portland, before Judge D. Brock Hornby to using an Alien Registration Card procured by fraud, making false statements in connection with a health care benefit program, and using a social security number obtained on the basis of false information.
March 29, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Detroit Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - The owner of a Detroit medical clinic pleaded guilty today for his participation in a Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 29, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Washington: South Sound Doctor Sentenced To More Than 12 Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud, Tax Crimes and Drug Distribution
Antoine Johnson, 41, a former resident of Aberdeen, Washington, and his mother, Lawanda Johnson, 63, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for more than two dozen federal felonies connected with their operation of four health care clinics in Western Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.
March 29, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of West Virginia: Morgantown Health Care Providers pay $2.25 Million for False Claims, Substandard Care
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Monongalia Health System, Inc. and Morgantown Health Care Corporation, which formerly operated MonPointe Continuing Care Center, have paid $2.25 million to the United States to settle allegations that MonPointe submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid from September 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007, in violation of the Federal False Claims Act.
March 28, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Doctor Sentenced For Health Care Fraud
PHILADELPHIA - Dr. Joseph J. Kubacki, 63, of Destin, Florida, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for a health care fraud scheme in which he submitted fraudulent claims and caused more than $1.8 million in payments to be paid by Medicare and 31 other health insurers. A federal jury convicted Kubacki of 150 counts of health care fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements in health care matters. The verdict was announced on August 22, 2011.
March 28, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Residential Youth Treatment Facility for Medicaid Recipients in Marion, Virginia Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations & Will Pay $6.85 Million to Settle Allegations of Providing Substandard Adolescent Psychiatric Services
Universal Health Services Inc. and two subsidiaries have reached a settlement in a False Claims Act lawsuit with the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Justice Department announced today.
March 28, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Maryland: Two Physicians Indicted In a Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS by Concealing Their Income and Filing False Tax Returns
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted cardiologist Abdul H. Fadul, age 75, and Ali Al-Attar, age 49, a doctor of internal medicine, of Alexandria and McLean, Virginia, respectively, today on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States by attempting to hide their true income, and aiding in the preparation of false tax returns.
March 28, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Maryland: Good Samaritan Hospital Agrees To Pay $793,548 To Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Baltimore, Maryland - Good Samaritan Hospital, a facility within the MedStar Health System, has agreed to pay the United States $793,548 to settle claims that it submitted false claims to federal health benefits programs over a four-year period between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008.
March 27, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Washington: Unites States Department Of Justice And The State Of Washington Announce Successful Health Care Fraud Settlement With Bates Drug Stores In Spokane
Spokane - Today, Joseph H. Harrington, Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. ' 515, announced that the United States Department of Justice (on behalf of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the Medicare program) and the State of Washington (on behalf of the Washington State Health Care Authority, which administers the Medicaid program) have reached a civil settlement with Bates Drug Stores, Inc. in the amount of $602,271.14.
March 27, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Detroit Podiatrist Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - A Detroit-area doctor of podiatric medicine was sentenced today to one year in prison for a fraud scheme involving false billings to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
March 23, 2012; U. S. Department of Justice: United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations against Illinois-Based Lifewatch Services
WASHINGTON - LifeWatch Services Inc., a Rosemont, Ill.-based company, has agreed to pay the United States $18.5 million to resolve allegations that the company submitted false claims to federal health care programs, the Justice Department announced today. The settlement resolves two lawsuits filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.
March 23, 2012; U. S. Department of Justice: Pennsylvania- Based Eusa Pharma (USA) Inc. to Pay U.S. $180,000 for Allegedly Submitting Inflated Claims to Medicare
WASHINGTON - EUSA Pharma (USA) Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $180,000 to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by allegedly encouraging doctors to submit inflated claims to Medicare for imaging scans, the Justice Department announced today. EUSA Pharma (USA) is headquartered in Langhorne, Pa.
March 23, 2012; United States Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Multi-Million dollar Hospice Health Care Fraud Scheme Alleged
PHILADELPHIA - An indictment was unsealed today charging five nurses in a health care fraud conspiracy arising from their employment at Home Care Hospice, Inc., a hospice care provider in Philadelphia, between 2005 and 2008, that resulted in a multi-million dollar fraud on Medicare.
March 22, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts: New Hampshire Man Guilty of Health Care Fraud
BOSTON - A manager for a company that manufactured and distributed bone growth stimulator medical devices was convicted today in federal court on fraud charges.
March 22, 2012; U. S. Department of Justice: Baton Rouge, La.-area Residents Sentenced in Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - Two patient recruiters for several Louisiana durable medical equipment (DME) companies were sentenced today for their roles in Medicare fraud schemes involving fraudulent claims and illegal kickback payments for unnecessary DME, announced the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FBI and the Louisiana State Attorney General's Office.
March 22, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Health Care Fraud Charges Against Two Employees Of The New York City Human Resources Administration
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Janice K. Fedarcyk, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Rose Gill Hearn, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, today announced charges against Kelvin Jennings and Pamela Jones, two long-time employees of the New York City Human Resources Administration, for allegedly creating and distributing fraudulent Medicaid cards in exchange for cash payments. JONES was arrested this morning and is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court later today. Jennings remains at large.
March 21, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Texas: Texas Orthodontic Clinic and Former Owner Resolve Allegations of False Medicaid Claims
DALLAS - All Smiles Dental Center, Inc. and its former majority owner, Richard Malouf, D.D.S. (collectively "All Smiles"), agreed to pay the U.S. and State of Texas $1.2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the civil False Claims Act and Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
March 20, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Virginia: Mental Health Service Provider Indicted for Health Care Fraud
RICHMOND, Va. - Joseph T. Hackett, 31, of Asheville, N.C., was indicted by a federal grand jury today on four counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks.
March 16, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - A Miami-area resident pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 15, 2012; U.S. Attorney; District of Maine: Walgreens Settles Federal and State Health Care Billing Complaint
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II today announced that Walgreen Co. ("Walgreens"), a national retail pharmacy chain that owns and operates retail drug outlets in Maine, paid $350,000 to settle claims involving billings to Maine's Medicaid program, known as MaineCare. MaineCare provides health insurance benefits to specific groups of low-income people.
March 15, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of New York: Michigan Man Arrested On Health Care Fraud Charge
Buffalo, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Fitzgerald Anthony Hudson, 51, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was arrested and charged by Criminal Complaint with health care fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000.
March 15, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Virginia: Richmond Woman Convicted of Health Care Fraud and Filing False Tax Return
RICHMOND, Va. - Veronica Sharon Cunningham, 49, of Richmond, Va., was convicted today by a federal jury on 26 counts of health care fraud, eight counts of making false statements on patient health care records, and a single count of filing a false tax return.
March 14, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Three Detroit-Area Clinic Owners Plead Guilty for Their Roles in $5.4 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - Three Detroit-area clinic owners pleaded guilty today for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 14, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Illinois: Physician Who Operated South Side Medical Clinic Convicted Of Health Care Fraud Involving Unnecessary Patient Tests
CHICAGO - A federal jury yesterday convicted Dr. Jaswinder Rai Chhibber, a physician who operated a south side medical clinic, of engaging in a health care fraud scheme between 2007 and July 2010, federal law enforcement officials announced today. Chhibber, who operated the former Cottage Grove Community Medical Clinic, located at 642 East 79th St., Chicago, was convicted of defrauding Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois by submitting false insurance claims for medically unnecessary tests and using false diagnosis codes to justify the tests he had ordered.
March 14, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Texas: Humble Woman Sentenced for East Texas Health Care Fraud
BEAUMONT, TX-A 61-year-old Humble, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for health care related fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
March 13, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - A Miami-area resident pleaded guilty today for his role in a fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 9, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Owner of Houston Health Care Company Sentenced To 30 Months in Prison In Connection With Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON - An owner and operator of a Houston durable medical equipment company was sentenced today in Houston federal court to 30 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 9, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Broward County, Fla.-Area Halfway House Owner Sentenced To 24 Months In Prison For Participating In Fraud And Kickback Scheme
WASHINGTON - The owner and operator of a Broward County, Fla.-area halfway house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud kickback scheme that funneled patients through a fraudulent mental health company, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services.
March 7, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Illinois: Two Doctors And Four Nurses Among 11 New Defendants Added To Case Alleging $20 Million Home Health Care Fraud Conspiracy, Medical Kickbacks, Money Laundering, And Income Tax Evasion
CHICAGO-Two physicians and four registered nurses are among 11 new defendants who were added to a federal indictment against a suburban Chicago man who operated two home health care businesses for allegedly swindling Medicare of at least $20 million over five years, federal law enforcement officials announced today.
March 5, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Former FDA Chemist Sentenced To 60 Months in Prison for Insider Trading
WASHINGTON - Cheng Yi Liang, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chemist from Gaithersburg, Md., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for engaging in insider trading on multiple occasions based on material, non-public information he obtained in his capacity as an FDA scientist. Liang was previously ordered to forfeit $3.7 million representing the proceeds of the insider trading scheme.
March 5, 2012; U. S. Attorney; District of New Jersey: Medical Assistant Charged For Allegedly Treating Patients without a License, Falsifying Billings to Medicare
NEWARK, N.J. - A federal grand jury has indicted a medical assistant for a pair of large medical services companies with offices in New Jersey and New York who allegedly posed as a doctor and treated patients without a license, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
March 2, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of North Carolina: 54-Month Prison Sentence For Woman Involved In A $1.5 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A Mt. Holly woman was sentenced to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for her role in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud and for money laundering charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad also ordered the defendant to pay restitution in the amount of $1,585,093 to the North Carolina Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid).
March 1, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Recovers More Than $13 Million In Medicare False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Beth Israel Medical Center
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has filed and simultaneously settled a civil health care False Claims Act lawsuit against the Beth Israel Medical Center ("Beth Israel") for fraudulently inflating its fees for services provided to Medicare patients in order to obtain larger supplemental reimbursement, known as "outlier payments," that Medicare pays to hospitals and other health care providers in cases where the cost of care is unusually high. In the settlement, Beth Israel admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for having selectively increased its charges to obtain more outlier payments than it would have otherwise received. Beth Israel also agreed to pay $13,031,355 to the United States to settle the Government's claims for damages and penalties under the False Claims Act. The settlement was approved yesterday by United States District Court Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
March 1, 2012; U.S. Department of Justice: Hospice Provider Odyssey Healthcare Agrees to Pay $25 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
Odyssey HealthCare, a subsidiary of Gentiva, has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve civil liability under the federal False Claims Act arising from its billing of claims for certain hospice services, the Justice Department announced today. Odyssey Healthcare currently provides hospice services in approximately 27 states, including Wisconsin. Odyssey was purchased by Gentiva Healthcare in 2010.
March 1, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Michigan: Nine Health Care Professionals, Including Five Doctors, Charged In Kickback Scheme
Grand Rapids, Michigan -- U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis and Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced today the federal Indictment (Link to Indictment) of eight individuals, including four licensed physicians and one licensed physician's assistant, for conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Additionally, a state charge was filed against a Jackson, Michigan physician for allegedly accepting kickbacks to refer his patients to certain rehabilitation facilities. All eight federally charged defendants appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh W. Brenneman for an initial appearance on the charge, which carries a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and restitution.
March 1, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Louisiana: Former Director Of The Louisiana Governor's Program On Abstinence Sentenced To Serve 70 Months In Prison
Baton Rouge, LA - United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. announced today that United States District Judge James J. Brady sentenced Gail Ray Dignam, age 64, currently of Diamondhead, Mississippi, and formerly of Baton Rouge, to seventy (70) months in prison, to pay restitution, and to a year of supervised release after imprisonment.
March 1, 2012; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Georgia: Doctor Banned from Federal Health Care Programs for Seven Years
Atlanta-The United States Attorney's Office announced today that it has reached a settlement with ROBERT M. RITCHEA, M.D., 49, of Phenix City, Alabama, to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that RITCHEA submitted more than $2.2 million in false or fraudulent claims to Medicare. Pursuant to the settlement, RITCHEA will be excluded from payment from all federal health care programs for a period of seven years. The payment prohibition applies to RITCHEA, anyone who employs or contracts with him, and any hospital or other provider for which he provides services. RITCHEA will also pay the United States the proceeds from the sale of a second home and $5,000 immediately. In the settlement process, a defendant's ability to pay is taken into consideration when determining the settlement amount.