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Criminal and Civil Enforcement

May 2019

May 22, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Nevada
Nurse Practitioner Sentenced To Over Six Years In Prison For Unlawful Dispensing of Opioids And Health Care Fraud
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A nurse practitioner was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,749,121.29 for unlawfully dispensing prescription opioids and Medicare and Medicaid fraud, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI's Las Vegas Division, and Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Los Angeles Region.
May 21, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
West Virginia Physician Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge
A Morgantown, West Virginia, physician pleaded guilty to obtaining controlled substances by fraudulently writing prescriptions using colleagues' Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) numbers and presenting stolen driver's licenses to pick up fraudulently prescribed controlled substances from Morgantown area pharmacies for his personal use, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia.
May 21, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Arizona
Podiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme
TUCSON, Ariz. - On May 17, 2019, Loren Wessel, 55, a resident of Tucson, was sentenced by United States District Judge James A. Soto for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme. Wessel had previously pleaded guilty to Health Care Fraud.
May 20, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Michigan Doctor Pleads Guilty to Role in $2.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
A Southfield, Michigan-based doctor pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme involving approximately $2.5 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for home health and physician services that were medically unnecessary, not provided and procured through the payment of illegal kickbacks.
May 20, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of New Jersey
Virginia Man Sentenced To 19 Months In Prison For Role In Medicare Fraud
TRENTON, N.J. - A Virginia man was sentenced today to 19 months in prison for his role in a scheme that used the purported non-profit The Good Samaritans of America to defraud the Medicare Program of more than $525,000 by convincing hundreds of senior citizens to submit to genetic testing, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
May 17, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Baton Rouge Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Billing Scheme
A Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based doctor was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release today for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care insurers.
May 17, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Arizona
Owners of Tucson Home Health Care Business Sentenced to Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme
TUCSON, Ariz. - On May 15, 2019, Stephen Allen Lamont, 61, and Elvia Lorena Lamont, 51, were sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson for their involvement in a Medicare fraud scheme. Lamont previously pled guilty to Health Care Fraud and his wife, Elvia Lamont, previously pled guilty to Misprision of a Felony.
May 17, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Texas
Texarkana Physician Agrees to Pay $118,000 to Settle Medicare Billing Fraud Allegations
TEXARKANA, Texas - A Texarkana, Texas, physician has agreed to pay $118,000 to settle allegations of improper billing practices for his Medicare patients at his three clinics, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
May 16, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in Scheme to Defraud Medicare by Soliciting Kickback Payments for Two New Orleans-Area Physicians
A New Orleans, Louisiana, man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to solicit the payment of illegal health care kickbacks to several individuals, including two New Orleans-area physicians, for the referring and certifying of individuals for medically unnecessary home health services.
May 16, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Missouri
Former St. Louis Podiatrist Convicted of Scheme to Defraud Medicare and Medicare Fraud
ST. LOUIS -- Following a four-day trial, Dr. Dawn Rhodes, 43, presently of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of eight counts of engaging in a scheme to defraud Medicare and submitting false claims to Medicare. The trial took place before U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey.
May 15, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Owner of Opioid Addiction Treatment Practice with Offices in Western PA and West Virginia Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution and Health Care Fraud
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Washington, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of aiding and abetting the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
May 13, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of New York
Pain Doctor Sentenced For Using Patient Names Fraudulently To Obtain Controlled Substances
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Dr. Paul Biddle, 54, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of identity theft and possession of unlawful hydromorphone HCL, was sentenced to two years probation by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
May 13, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Settles Civil Fraud Claims Against Medical Device Distributor For Selling Products Not Approved By The FDA
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jeffrey E. Shuren, M.D., director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), announced today that the U.S. has settled civil fraud claims under the False Claims Act against CAREFUSION CORPORATION ("CAREFUSION"), a medical device distributor based in San Diego, California, for buying and selling medical devices that were not approved or cleared by the FDA. These unapproved and uncleared devices were then used by medical providers in medical procedures, and the providers submitted claims for reimbursement to federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, for those procedures.
May 10, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of New Jersey
Somerset County Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Role in Medicare Fraud
TRENTON, N.J. - A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for using the purported non-profit The Good Samaritans of America to defraud the Medicare Program of more than $430,000 by convincing hundreds of senior citizens to submit to genetic testing, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Doctor And Physical Therapist Found Guilty Of Participating In $30 Million Scheme To Defraud Medicare And Medicaid
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that medical doctor PAUL J. MATHIEU and physical therapy doctor HATEM BEHIRY were each found guilty of participating in a $30 million scheme to defraud Medicare and the New York State Medicaid Program. The defendants were convicted following a six-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Virginia
Virginia Doctor Convicted on 861 Federal Counts of Drug Distribution, Including Distribution Resulting in Death: Faces Mandatory Minimum of 20 Years in Federal Prison
Abingdon, VIRGINIA - Joel Smithers, a Martinsville-based doctor, was found guilty today of 861 federal drug charges at the conclusion of a nine-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Hawaii
Oahu Physical Therapist Sentenced To 42 Months For Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme
HONOLULU - Garrett Okubo, 52, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 42 months of imprisonment for committing health care fraud. As part of his sentence, Okubo must pay $3.7 million in restitution, $3.7 million in forfeiture, and must serve three years of supervised release.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of South Carolina
Carolina Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Inc. To Pay $790,000 to Resolve False Billing Allegations
COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina has resolved claims of health care fraud with Carolina Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Inc. ("Carolina PT"). Carolina PT was a chain of nine physical therapy practices headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with practice locations in Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, Sumter, and Mount Pleasant.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Former Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Dispensing Vicodin and Defrauding the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former Pittsburgh radiologist has been sentenced in federal court to two years (24 months) in prison, three years' supervised release, and order to pay a fine of $15,000 and restitution in the amount of $728 on his conviction of unlawfully distributing controlled substances and health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Liberation Way Doctor Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Dr. Domenick Braccia, 57, of Perkasie, PA entered a plea of guilty before Judge Wendy Beetlestone on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The charges against the defendant stem from federal and state investigations into an elaborate insurance fraud scheme involving a Bucks County-based addiction treatment center, Liberation Way.
May 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Georgia
Jury finds podiatrist guilty of operating pill mill
ATLANTA - Dr. Arnita Avery-Kelly, a licensed podiatrist, has been found guilty on federal charges of illegally prescribing opioid painkillers and other drugs at clinic locations purporting to provide podiatric care in Sandy Springs, and Lithonia, Georgia.
May 8, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
New York Diagnostic Testing Facility Owners Plead Guilty in More than $18.5 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
Two New York diagnostic testing facility owners pleaded guilty today for their roles in a more than $18.5 million health care fraud scheme.
May 8, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty to Role in $8.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme and Related Money Laundering
A Nigerian man pleaded guilty today for his role in a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme that fraudulently billed more than $8 million dollars to Medicare for DME that was not medically necessary.
May 8, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice 
South Florida Patient Recruiter Sentenced for Role In $1.6 Million Kickback Scheme
A South Florida patient recruiter was sentenced to 87 months in prison today for her role in a scheme involving approximately $1.6 million in Medicare claims for home health care services that were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
May 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Alabama
Ten, including Pharmacy Owners, Pharmacist, and Nurse Practitioner, Charged in Over $200 Million Prescription Drug Fraud
BIRMINGHAM - Ten defendants were charged in a 103-count indictment, including a nurse practitioner, and the owners, a pharmacist, managers, sales representatives, and billers, of a Haleyville, Ala.-based pharmacy, Northside Pharmacy doing business as Global Compounding Pharmacy. The indictment charges them with fraudulently billing health care insurers and prescription drug administrators for over $200 million in prescription drugs. In one listed instance, the defendants' fraudulent conduct caused a prescription plan administrator to pay over $29,000 for one tube of a cream advertised as treating "general wounds."
May 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of West Virginia
United States Attorney Announces $17 Million Healthcare Fraud Settlement
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - United States Attorney Mike Stuart, along with Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, United States Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin Schoeman, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and Director Mike Malone, West Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), announced that his office has settled healthcare fraud claims against Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. ("Acadia"). Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Acadia will pay $17 million to resolve allegations of a billing scheme that defrauded Medicaid of $8.5 million. The settlement represents the largest healthcare fraud settlement in the history of West Virginia and is twice the actual loss from the scheme. Of the $17 million settlement, nearly $2.2 million will be paid directly to the State of West Virginia.
May 3, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Tennessee
Decatur Hospital Authority, d/b/a Wise Health System in Decatur, Texas will pay $431,182.96 to the United States for services rendered to patients that were in violation of the Federal False Claims Act
Memphis, TN - Decatur Hospital Authority, d/b/a Wise Health System in Decatur, Texas will pay $431,182.96 to the United States to resolve allegations of billing false claims to Medicare for genetic testing panels for surgical patients that were not medically reasonable or necessary.
May 3, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Kentucky
Ashland Cardiologist Sentenced to 60 Months for Health Care Fraud and False Statements
COVINGTON, Ky. - Late yesterday, Ashland cardiologist Dr. Richard E. Paulus was sentenced, by U.S. District Court Judge David L. Bunning, to serve 60 months in federal prison for health care fraud and false statements. In October 2016, a federal jury convicted Paulus, 71, of one count of health care fraud and ten counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, after hearing evidence that Paulus defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers, by implanting medically unnecessary stents in his patients and falsifying the degree of stenosis in their medical records. After the trial, the district court granted Paulus's motion for an acquittal. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals later reversed that decision, on June 25, 2018, and reinstated Dr. Paulus's conviction, resulting in his formal sentencing.
May 3, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Georgia
CEO of medical equipment company sentenced to 40 months for Medicare fraud
SAVANNAH, GA: The chief executive officer of a string of Savannah-based durable medical equipment companies was sentenced to more than three years in prison for a scheme that defrauded Medicare out of millions of dollars.
May 2, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Alabama
Former Chief Executive Officer of Health Care Company Sentenced to Two Years Probation for Theft of Government Property
Montgomery, Alabama - On Thursday, May 2, 2019, William "Ed" Henry, 48, of Hartselle, Alabama, was sentenced to two years' probation for aiding and abetting the theft of government property. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $4,000.00, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr.
May 2, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas
Ambulance Owner Sent to Prison for Health Care Fraud
HOUSTON - A 46-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
May 2, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Manhattan Doctor Pleads Guilty To Illegally Distributing Oxycodone And Other Drugs
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH OLIVIERI, a physician who practiced in Manhattan, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty to participating in a conspiracy to illegally distribute oxycodone and other controlled substances. OLIVIERI's co-defendant MATTHEW BRADY pled guilty on April 30, 2019, to his role in the conspiracy.
May 1, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida
Owner of Florida Medical Clinic Sentenced To Prison
WASHINGTON - An owner of a Florida medical clinic was sentenced to serve 91 months in prison today for her role in a $2.5 million health care fraud scheme.

April 2019

April 30, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Owner of Florida Medical Clinic Sentenced to Prison
An owner of a Florida medical clinic was sentenced to serve 91 months in prison today for her role in a $2.5 million health care fraud scheme.
April 30, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Pharmaceutical Company Agrees to Pay $17.5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Kickbacks to Medicare Patients and Physicians
The Justice Department announced today that US WorldMeds LLC (USWM) has agreed to pay $17.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq., by paying kickbacks to patients and physicians to improperly induce prescriptions of its drugs, Apokyn® and Myobloc®. USWM is a pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
April 30, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Former CEO of Hospital Chain to Pay $3.46 Million to Resolve False Billing and Kickback Allegations
Gary D. Newsome, former CEO of Health Management Associates LLC (HMA), a hospital chain that was headquartered in Naples, Florida, has agreed to pay the United States $3.46 million to settle allegations that he caused HMA to knowingly submit false claims to government health care programs by admitting patients who could have been treated on a less costly, outpatient basis, the Department of Justice announced. The settlement also resolves allegations that Newsome caused HMA to pay remuneration to Emergency Department (ED) physicians in return for referrals.
April 30, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas
Operator of McAllen Area DME Company Sentenced for Health Care Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - The owner of a durable medical equipment (DME) company has been ordered to federal prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $3 million, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Anna Ramirez-Ambriz, 57, of McAllen, pleaded guilty March 31, 2017.
April 30, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of West Virginia
West Virginia physician found guilty of illegally distributing drugs
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Dr. George P. Naum, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was found guilty today of illegally distributing controlled substances, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
April 25, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Two Pharmaceutical Companies Agree to Pay a Total of Nearly $125 Million to Resolve Allegations That They Paid Kickbacks Through Copay Assistance Foundations
The Department of Justice announced today that two more pharmaceutical companies - Astellas Pharma US Inc. (Astellas) and Amgen Inc. (Amgen) - have agreed to pay a total of $124.75 million to resolve allegations that they each violated the False Claims Act by illegally paying the Medicare copays for their own products, through purportedly independent foundations that the companies used as mere conduits.
April 24, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Tennessee
Two Former Arriva Medical Executives Agree To Pay $1 Million To Settle Diabetic Testing Supply Fraud Allegations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - April 24, 2019 - David Wallace of Boca Raton, Florida and Timothy Stocksdale, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, two former executives of Arriva Medical, LLC (Arriva), agreed to pay $500,000 each to settle the United States' allegations that they had violated the False Claims Act, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
April 22, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Michigan Home Health Agency Owner Sentenced to Prison for $8.3 Million Medicare Fraud
A Michigan home health agency owner was sentenced to 84 months in prison today for his role in an $8.3 million scheme to defraud Medicare.
April 22, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida
Stuart Physician Sentenced to Prison After Having Been Convicted at Trial of Health Care Fraud
Yesterday, a doctor who previously worked in Stuart, Florida, was sentenced to prison after having been convicted by a federal jury of committing repeated acts of health care fraud.
April 18, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Nevada
Former Medical Doctor And His Business Partner Sentenced To Nearly Three Years In Prison For $7.1 Million Medicare Health Care Fraud Scheme
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A former medical doctor and his business partner were sentenced Tuesday to 33 months in prison for their individual roles in a $7.1 million Medicare health care fraud scheme that occurred at three Las Vegas hospice and home healthcare agencies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
April 17, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force Takedown Results in Charges Against 60 Individuals, Including 53 Medical Professionals
Charges Involve Over 350 Thousand Prescriptions for Controlled Substances and Over 32 Million Pills; ARPO Strike Force Grows to 10 Districts, Expanding to Include the Western District of Virginia
Attorney General William P. Barr and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar II, together with multiple law enforcement partners, today announced enforcement actions involving 60 charged defendants across 11 federal districts, including 31 doctors, seven pharmacists, eight nurse practitioners, and seven other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in the illegal prescribing and distributing of opioids and other dangerous narcotics and for health care fraud schemes. In addition, HHS announced today that since June 2018, it has excluded over 2,000 individuals from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and all other Federal health care programs, which includes more than 650 providers excluded for conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse. Since July 2017, DEA has issued 31 immediate suspension orders, 129 orders to show cause, and received 1,386 surrenders for cause nationwide for violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
April 17, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Michigan
Livonia Doctor Sentenced to More Than Twelve Years for Conspiring With Others to Illegally Distribute Prescription Drugs
Dr. Zongli Chang, M.D., was ordered today to serve a sentence of 135 months for conspiring with seven other patient recruiters (co-defendants in this case) to illegally distribute prescription drugs, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.
April 16, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Pennsylvania
Marysville Woman Guilty Of Distribution Of A Controlled Substance And False Statements In Health Care Matters
HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Belinda Dietrich, age 62, of Marysville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on April 15, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and one count of false statements in health care matters.
April 16, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Central District of California
Two Brothers Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Distribute Opioids Through Sham Medical Clinics and Corrupt Doctors
LOS ANGELES - Two San Fernando Valley brothers have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges, admitting that they conspired to distribute powerful narcotics such as hydrocodone and oxycodone via sham medical clinics that hired corrupt doctors who wrote fraudulent prescriptions to black market customers.
April 15, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of New York
Former Most Wanted Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Etienne Allonce, the former co-owner of Medical Solutions Management, Inc. (MSM), a medical equipment company in Hicksville, New York, pleaded guilty to health care fraud. In September 2018, Allonce was expelled from Haiti where he had fled 11 years earlier following the filing of an indictment in the Eastern District of New York charging him with billing Medicare and Medicaid for medical supplies never delivered to patients and never ordered by MSM. Prior to his return to the United States, Allonce was placed on the Most Wanted List of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Allonce pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.
April 12, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay $30 Million to Settle Alleged Overpayment of Medicare Advantage Funds
Sutter Health LLC, a California-based healthcare services provider, and several affiliated entities, Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, and Sutter Medical Foundation, have agreed to pay $30 million to resolve allegations that the affiliated entities submitted inaccurate information about the health status of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans, which resulted in the plans and providers being overpaid, the Justice Department announced today. Sutter Health is headquartered in Sacramento, California.
April 12, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Two Defendants Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
April 11, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Ohio
Jury Convicts Hamilton Physician of Illegal Distribution of Opioids
CINCINNATI - A U.S. District Court jury convicted Dr. Saad Sakkal, 71, of illegally distributing and dispensing controlled substances that led to the death of one victim in 2016. Sakkal was practicing at Lindenwald Medical Association, Inc. in Hamilton.
April 10, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Connecticut
Cheshire Social Worker Pays $145,855 to Settle False Claims Allegations
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that PATRICIA McALINDEN, LCSW, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and will pay more than $145,000 to resolve allegations that she violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
April 10, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of South Carolina
South Carolina U.S. Attorney Announces Operation Dismantling One of the Largest Medicare Fraud Schemes in History
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today one of the largest health care fraud schemes in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID). The announcement was made at a press conference at Palmetto GBA in Columbia, South Carolina, a Medicare administration contractor whose payment safeguarding services seek to eliminate Medicare abuse, fraud, and waste.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Federal Indictments & Law Enforcement Actions in One of the Largest Health Care Fraud Schemes Involving Telemedicine and Durable Medical Equipment Marketing Executives Results in Charges Against 24 Individuals Responsible for Over $1.2 Billion in Losses
One of the largest health care fraud schemes investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice resulted in charges against 24 defendants, including the CEOs, COOs and others associated with five telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies and three licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $1.2 billion in loss, as well as the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts. In addition, the Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that it took adverse administrative action against 130 DME companies that had submitted over $1.7 billion in claims and were paid over $900 million.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Michigan
Pharmacy Owner and Pharmacist Charged in a Scheme to Bill Insurance for Medications Not Dispensed
An indictment was unsealed today charging Mohamad Ali Makki, R.Ph. and Wansa Nabi Makki with multiple health care fraud offenses, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today. At the same time, related criminal complaints were unsealed charging Mamoud Makki and Hossam Tanana (husband of Wansa Makki) of laundering some of the proceeds of the health care fraud scheme.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Virginia
Company Allegedly Lied to Doctors and Public Health Care Benefit Programs About the Safety and Diversion Risks of Suboxone Film
WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury sitting in Abingdon, Virginia, has indicted Indivior Inc. (formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.) and Indivior PLC (Indivior) for engaging in an illicit nationwide scheme to increase prescriptions of Suboxone Film, an opioid drug used in the treatment of opioid addiction, the Department of Justice announced.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Virginia
Indivior Inc. Indicted for Fraudulently Marketing Prescription Opioid
WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury sitting in Abingdon, Virginia, has indicted Indivior Inc. (formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.) and Indivior PLC (Indivior) for engaging in an illicit nationwide scheme to increase prescriptions of Suboxone Film, an opioid drug used in the treatment of opioid addiction, the Department of Justice announced.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Texas
Owner of Guadalupe County Telemedicine Companies Arrested in National Health Care Fraud Takedown
This morning, federal authorities arrested 54-year-old Christopher O'Hara, of Kingsbury, TX, without incident in connection with Health Care Fraud, bribery and kickback scheme, announced U.S. Attorney John Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter, Dallas Field Office.
April 9, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of New Jersey
Seven People Charged In New Jersey Massive Health Care Fraud Scheme Involving Telemedicine And Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
NEWARK, N.J. - One of the largest health care fraud schemes investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice resulted in charges against 24 defendants - seven of whom were charged in the District of New Jersey - including the CEOs, COOs and others associated with five telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies and three licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $1.2 billion in loss, as well as the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts. In addition, the Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that it took adverse administrative action against 130 DME companies that had submitted over $1.7 billion in claims and were paid over $900 million.
April 5, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
South Florida Health Care Facility Owner Convicted for Role in Largest Health Care Fraud Scheme Ever Charged by The Department of Justice, Involving $1.3 Billion in Fraudulent Claims
A federal jury found a South Florida health care facility owner guilty today for his role in the largest health care fraud scheme ever charged by the Justice Department, involving over $1.3 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not provided, were not medically necessary or were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
April 5, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Oklahoma
Two Tulsa Doctors Settle with the U.S. Government for Allegedly Engaging in Illegal Kickback Schemes
TULSA, Okla. - Two more Tulsa doctors have entered into settlement agreements with the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly accepting illegal kickback payments from OK Compounding, LLC, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
April 5, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Unlicensed Dentist Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison For Healthcare Fraud, Conspiracy To Commit Healthcare Fraud, And Conspiracy To Violate The Anti-Kickback Statute
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LUIS OMAR VARGAS, an unlicensed dentist, was sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding health insurance companies by billing for false claims, billing for claims performed by him as an unlicensed provider, and for conspiring to pay kickbacks to his patients. VARGAS was convicted after two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed today's sentence.
April 4, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Three Pharmaceutical Companies Agree to Pay a Total of Over $122 Million to Resolve Allegations That They Paid Kickbacks Through Co-Pay Assistance Foundations
The Department of Justice today announced that three pharmaceutical companies - Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Jazz), Lundbeck LLC (Lundbeck), and Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Alexion) - have agreed to pay a total of $122.6 million to resolve allegations that they each violated the False Claims Act by illegally paying the Medicare or Civilian Health and Medical Program (ChampVA) copays for their own products, through purportedly independent foundations that the companies used as mere conduits.
April 4, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Former CEO of Tennessee Pain Management Company Convicted for Role in Approximate $4 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme
A federal jury sitting in Nashville, Tennessee found the former CEO of a Tennessee pain management company guilty today for his role in an illegal kickback scheme involving approximately $4 million in tainted durable medical equipment (DME) claims to Medicare.
April 4, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Former Administrator of Two Houston Home Health Companies Sentenced to Prison in $20 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
The former Director of Nursing and Administration of two Houston, Texas-based businesses was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for her role in a $20 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false and fraudulent claims for home health services.
April 4, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Kentucky
Lee County Ambulance Service and its Director Agree to Pay $253,930 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Lee County Fiscal Court ("Lee County") and the former director of its ambulance service, Joseph Broadwell, have agreed to resolve civil allegations that Lee County Ambulance violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims, agreeing to pay $253,930 to the federal government.
April 2, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Dallas-Area Home Health Care Employee Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for His Role in a $3.7 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
A Collin County, Texas man was sentenced to 60 months in prison today following his trial conviction for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
April 1, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Oklahoma
Indictment Unsealed Charging Mangum Pharmacist with Over $1 Million in Health Care Fraud
OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal indictment has been unsealed charging JEFFREY SCOTT TERRY, 37, of Mangum, Oklahoma, with forty counts of using his pharmacy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester and Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter.

March 2019

March 29, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts
CareWell Urgent Care Center Agrees to Pay $2 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Billing of Government Health Care Programs
BOSTON - The United States Attorney's Office announced today that CareWell Urgent Care Centers of MA, P.C., CareWell Urgent Care of Rhode Island, P.C., and Urgent Care Centers of New England Inc. (CareWell), the owners and operators of urgent care centers located throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated and upcoded claims to Medicare, Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth), the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC), and Rhode Island Medicaid.
March 29, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Wisconsin
Acacia Mental Health Clinic, LLC and Its Owner, Abraham Freund, Agree to Pay Over $4 million in Cash and Other Compensation to Settle the Government's False Claims Act Lawsuit
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that Acacia Mental Health Clinic, LLC ("Acacia") and its owner, Abraham Freund, have agreed to pay approximately $4.1 million in cash and other compensation to the United States and the State of Wisconsin. The payments will be made to settle the government's lawsuit alleging that Acacia and Freund violated the False Claims Act by submitting thousands of false claims to Medicaid for urine drug tests and telemedicine services. Acacia and Abraham Freund also agreed to 20-year suspensions from participation in federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid; Abraham Freund's son, Isaac Freund, agreed to a 5-year suspension.
March 29, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of North Carolina
Medicaid Fraud Provider Plea
RALEIGH - Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced that in federal court, United States Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr. accepted a guilty plea in a health care fraud matter.
March 28, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Chicago Home Health Company Owner Convicted for Role in $3 Million Kickback Scheme
A federal jury found the owner of a now-defunct Chicago, Illinois home health company guilty today for her role in a scheme involving over $3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for home health services that were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
March 27, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Connecticut
Former CFO of New Haven Biotech Firm Who Embezzled $1 Million Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THOMAS MALONE, 49, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling approximately $1 million from a New Haven biotech company that receives federal research grants.
March 26, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Minnesota
Otsego Home Health Care Company To Pay More Than $700,000 To Resolve False Claims Act Liability
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced that Accurate Home Care, LLC ("Accurate Home Care"), a home health care company headquartered in Otsego, Minnesota, has agreed to pay $726,957.59 to resolve federal False Claims Act violations arising from the unlawful submission of claims for payment to Minnesota Medicaid, a jointly funded federal and state health care program.
March 25, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
United States Files Lawsuit Against West Virginia Hospital, Its Management Company, and Its CEO Based on Kickbacks and Other Improper Payments to Physicians
The United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Wheeling Hospital Inc., R & V Associates Ltd. (R & V), and Ronald Violi in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Department of Justice announced today. The government alleges that Wheeling Hospital, which is located in Wheeling, West Virginia, violated the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, and that those violations were caused by R & V, Wheeling's contracted management consultant, and Violi, Wheeling's CEO.
March 25, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Duke University Agrees to Pay U.S. $112.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Scientific Research Misconduct
Duke University has agreed to pay the government $112.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting applications and progress reports that contained falsified research on federal grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Justice Department announced today.
March 21, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
MedStar Health to Pay U.S. $35 Million to Resolve Allegations that it Paid Kickbacks to a Cardiology Group in Exchange for Referrals
MedStar Health Inc. (MedStar) in Columbia, Maryland., MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, both in Baltimore, have agreed to pay the United States $35 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that it paid kickbacks to MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Associates (MACVA), a cardiology group based in Pikesville, Maryland, in exchange for referrals, through a series of professional services contracts at Union Memorial and Franklin Square Hospitals in Baltimore.
March 21, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Wisconsin
University to Pay $1.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, acting through the University of Wisconsin-Madison ("University"), agreed to pay $1.5 million to the United States to settle the claims that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to properly account for rebates and credits to reduce costs allocable to federal grants and awards ("Federal Awards").
March 20, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas
RGV Man Sentenced for Medicare Fraud Scheme
McALLEN, Texas - A former account representative for a toxicology testing company has been ordered to prison in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
March 20, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Dubois-area Doctor Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
JOHNSTOWN, PA - A resident of DuBois, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
March 19, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Florida Pharmacist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $100 Million Compounding Pharmacy Fraud Scheme Eight Others Previously Sentenced
A Florida pharmacist was sentenced to 120 months in prison today followed by three years supervised release. He was also orderd to pay $3.2 million in restitution and $1.4 million in forfeiture for his role in a massive compounding pharmacy fraud scheme, which impacted private insurance companies, Medicare and TRICARE. Eight other individuals have previously been sentenced in connection with the scheme. Various real properties, cars and a 50-foot boat have been forfeited as part of the sentencings.
March 19, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Louisiana-Based Licensed Clinical Social Worker Pleads Guilty to Medicaid Fraud Scheme
A Louisiana-based licensed clinical social worker pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicaid.
March 18, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Maryland
Maryland Law Firm Meyers, Rodbell & Rosenbaum, P.A., Agrees to Pay the United States $250,000 to Settle Claims that it Did Not Reimburse Medicare for Payments Made on Behalf of a Firm Client
Baltimore, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur announced that Meyers, Rodbell & Rosenbaum, P.A., a law firm with offices in Riverdale Park and Gaithersburg, has entered into a settlement agreement with the United States to resolve allegations that it failed to reimburse the United States for certain Medicare payments made to medical providers on behalf of a firm client.
March 15, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Connecticut
New London Psychiatrist and Mental Health Clinic Pay over $3.3 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
United States Attorney John H. Durham, Special Agent in Charge Phillip Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong today announced that DR. BASSAM AWWA and his medical practice, CONNECTICUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES, P.C. ("CBHA") have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments in which they will pay $3,382,004 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
March 14, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts
Haverhill Nurse Charged with Drug Tampering
BOSTON - A Haverhill licensed practical nurse was charged on March 12, 2019, in federal court in Boston with drug tampering.
March 13, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Creator of Fraudulent Chicago-Area Pharmacy Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for $1.6 Million Fraud Scheme
The creator of a fraudulent Chicago-area pharmacy has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for his role in a $1.6 million health care fraud scheme.
March 13, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Philadelphia-Area Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Distributing Oxycodone
A Philadelphia-area doctor pleaded guilty today to illegal distribution of oxycodone.
March 13, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Owner of Washington, D.C.-Based Durable Medical Equipment Company Sentenced to Prison for Role in $9.8 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme
The owner of a Washington, D.C.-based durable medical equipment company was sentenced to 42 months in prison today for her role in a scheme to submit $9.8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid.
March 12, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Bradenton Woman Sentenced For Theft Of Government Funds
Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Roselle Fitzgerald to 21 months in federal prison for theft of government funds and counterfeit or forged securities. As part of her sentence, the court entered a money judgment of $185,731.71, the proceeds of the theft of criminal conduct, and ordered Fitzgerald to pay restitution.
March 11, 2019; U.S Department of Justice
Covidien to Pay Over $17 Million to The United States for Allegedly Providing Illegal Remuneration in the Form of Practice and Market Development Support to Physicians
Covidien LP has agreed to pay $17,477,947 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by providing free or discounted practice development and market development support to physicians located in California and Florida to induce purchases of Covidien's vein ablation products, the Department of Justice announced today.
March 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas
Houston Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Commit $50 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering
HOUSTON - A 36-year-old Houston woman has been ordered to pay more than $15 million in restitution following her conviction of conspiring to commit $50 million health care fraud as well laundering money, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A jury convicted Daniela Gozes-Wagner in September 2017.
March 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Maryland
Federal Indictment Adds Second Defendant Charged With Witness Retaliation and Tampering Resulting in the Death of a Baltimore Woman
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury in Baltimore, Maryland returned a 10-count superseding indictment charging Davon Carter, age 39, and Clifton Mosley, age 41, both of Baltimore, Maryland, with two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness and one count each of witness retaliation murder and witness tampering murder, related to the murder of Latrina Ashburne, age 41, on May 27, 2016.
March 1, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
North Carolina Mental Health Company Owner Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Health Care Fraud and Tax Evasion Charges
The owner of a North Carolina mental health company was sentenced to prison today for the submission of false claims to Medicaid and tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department's Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.

February 2019

February 27, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Florida Home Health Services Company Owner and Co-Conspirator Sentenced to Prison for Role in $8.6 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
A home health services company owner and a co-conspirator, both Miami, Florida residents, were sentenced to prison today for their roles in a $8.6 million health care fraud scheme.
February 27, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Vanguard Healthcare Agrees to Resolve Federal and State False Claims Act Liability
The Department of Justice announced today that Brentwood, Tennessee-based Vanguard Healthcare LLC, and related Vanguard companies (Vanguard) agreed to pay more than $18 million in allowed claims to resolve a lawsuit brought by the United States and the State of Tennessee against them for billing the Medicare and Medicaid programs for grossly substandard nursing home services. Vanguard Healthcare and several related Vanguard companies that have reorganized in bankruptcy agreed to pay more than $5.1 million towards the settlement, and two Vanguard entities that are liquidating in bankruptcy have agreed to $13.5 million in allowed claims in bankruptcy. The settlement agreement also resolves claims brought by the United States against Vanguard's majority owner and CEO, William Orand, and Vanguard's former director of operations, Mark Miller, who agree to pay $250,000 as part of this settlement.
February 27, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Ohio
Columbus Couple Agree to Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme that Targeted City Employees, First Responders, Military Health Benefit Provider
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Columbus couple have agreed to plead guilty to charges related to a health-care fraud scheme that involved compound creams prescribed to city employees and first responders.
February 26, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts
Medford Woman Sentenced For Social Security, Medicare, MassHealth And SNAP Benefit Fraud
BOSTON - A Medford woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, MassHealth and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
February 25, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Southern California Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to Prison for Her Role in Health Care and Wire Fraud Scheme
A Southern California pharmacy owner was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for her role in a Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $1.5 million in fraudulent claims for prescription drugs.
February 25, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Skyline Urology to Pay $1.85 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Medicare Overbilling
Skyline Urology has agreed to pay the United States $1.85 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting improper claims to the Medicare program for evaluation and management services, the Department of Justice announced today.
February 25, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Oklahoma
North Carolina Marketer Agrees to Pay $414,108.08 for Allegedly Engaging in Illegal Kickback Scheme with OK Compounding
David Tsui and Wellcare Consulting, LLC, a North Carolina marketing company, have agreed to pay the government $414,108.08 for allegedly accepting illegal kickback payments from OK Compounding, LLC, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
February 25, 2019; Nevada Attorney General
Attorney General Ford Announces Sentencing of Las Vegas Medicaid Provider Cory Ron Bieniemy
Las Vegas, NV - Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that Cory Ron Bieniemy, 47, of Las Vegas, was sentenced in a Medicaid fraud case involving false billing for medical services to Medicaid recipients. The fraud occurred between January 2015 and October 2016.
February 22, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
South Florida Patient Recruiter Convicted For Role In $600,000 Health Care Kickback Scheme
A federal jury found a South Florida patient recruiter guilty today for her role in a scheme involving approximately $600,000 in Medicare claims for home health care that were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
February 22, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Doctor Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of Nine Counts In Connection With Oxycodone And Fentanyl Diversion Scheme
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the conviction yesterday of ERNESTO LOPEZ, a New York-licensed medical doctor who wrote thousands of medically unnecessary prescriptions for oxycodone and fentanyl over an approximately three-year period, following an eight-day trial before the Honorable Denise L. Cote. LOPEZ was remanded into custody following his conviction. Audra Baker, a medical assistant who worked in one of LOPEZ's medical offices, and who was tried with LOPEZ, was acquitted of all charges against her.
February 22, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida
Three South Florida Residents Arrested on Federal Healthcare Fraud Charges
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office and Shimon R. Richmond, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Miami Regional Office, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announced that Jose Antonio Mesa Sixto, 53, of Miami, Llunaisy Acanda, 41, of Miami Gardens, and Ania Hans, 41, of Miami, were arrested on charges relating to healthcare fraud and payment and receipt of healthcare kickbacks.
February 21, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Missouri
Jury Convicts Former Dental Clinic Owners of $1 Million Health Care, Payroll Tax Fraud
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced today that a Marshfield, Mo., couple has been convicted by a federal trial jury of multiple fraud schemes totaling more than $1 million that involved Medicaid payments to their dental clinics, failing to pay over payroll taxes and collecting unemployment benefits they were not entitled to receive.
February 21, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts
Newton Physician to Pay $680,000 to Resolve Allegations of Medicare and Medicaid Fraud
BOSTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office announced today that Dr. Hooshang Poor, a Newton geriatric medicine physician, has agreed to pay $680,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated claims to Medicare and the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth) for care rendered to nursing home patients.
February 20, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Miami Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme
A Miami, Florida-area medical clinic owner pleaded guilty today for her role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting fraudulent billings from the clinic and by supplying patients to three home health agencies that submitted fraudulent bills for home health services.
February 19, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
United States Joins False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Arriva Medical LLC and Alere Inc.
The United States has intervened in a False Claims Act case alleging that Arriva Medical LLC (Arriva) and its parent Alere Inc. (Alere) submitted or caused false claims to the Medicare program for medically unnecessary glucometers and paid kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries in the form of free glucometers and copayment waivers, the Justice Department announced today. Additionally, the government has informed the court that it is adding Ted Albin, a reimbursement consultant for Arriva, as an additional defendant in the action.
February 19, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Oklahoma
Tulsa Doctor Will Pay $84,666 for Allegedly Engaging in an Illegal Kickback Scheme
TULSA, Okla. -A Tulsa doctor has agreed to pay the government $84,666.42 for allegedly accepting illegal kickback payments from OK Compounding, LLC, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
February 19, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida
Stuart Physician Convicted of 23 Counts of Health Care Fraud
On February 19, 2019, a doctor who previously worked in Stuart, Florida, was convicted by a federal jury of committing repeated acts of health care fraud.
February 15, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Michigan Patient Recruiter Pleads Guilty in $1.2 Million Kickback Scheme
A Michigan woman pleaded guilty today for her role as a patient recruiter in a scheme involving approximately $1.2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for home health care procured through the payment of kickbacks.
February 14, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Florida Compounding Pharmacy and Its Owners to Pay at Least $775,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
The Department of Justice announced today that Vital Life Institute LLC (formerly known as AgeVital Pharmacy LLC), located in Sarasota, Florida, and owners Jenny and William Wilkins have agreed to pay at least $775,000 to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by engaging in an illegal kickback scheme to induce the referral of compounded drug prescriptions for TRICARE and Medicare beneficiaries. AgeVital and the Wilkinses have agreed to pay additional amounts in the event certain contingencies are triggered.
February 14, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force Case
Baton Rouge Doctor and His Medical Billing Supervisor Plead Guilty to Fraudulent Billing Scheme
A Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based doctor pleaded guilty yesterday and his medical billing supervisor pleaded guilty today for their roles in a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care insurers.
February 14, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Prime Healthcare Services and CEO, Dr. Prem Reddy, to Pay $1.25 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. ("Prime") and Prime's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Prem Reddy, have agreed to pay the United States $1.25 million to settle allegations that two Prime hospitals in Pennsylvania - Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia and Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol - knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare by engaging in the following conduct: (1) admitting patients to the hospital for overnight stays who required only less costly, outpatient care and (2) billing for more expensive patient diagnoses than the patients had (the latter practice known as "up-coding").
February 13, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Virginia
Former Blacksburg Doctor Sentenced on Federal Drug Charges
Roanoke, VIRGINIA - The former owner of the Virginia Vein Institute in Blacksburg was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in federal prison resulting from his conviction on nearly 70 federal drug charges for illegally obtaining 3,200 oxycodone pills, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and the Virginia Attorney General's Office announced.
February 12, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Mississippi
Laurel-Based Physicians Group and Neurologist Agree to Pay Almost One Million Dollars to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
Settlement Stems from Alleged Medicare Overpayments to Doctors
Jackson, Miss. - Jefferson Medical Associates, a now dissolved, multi-specialty medical practice group in Laurel, and Dr. Aremmia Tanious, have agreed to pay the United States $817,635.06 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act arising from Medicare overpayments to Jefferson Medical Associates and Dr. Tanious, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
February 12, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of New York
Owner of North Country Medical Transportation Company Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud, Paying Kickbacks
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Arshad Nazir, age 54, of Ticonderoga, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicaid, and conspiring to pay bribes and kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries who used his medical transportation service. He admitted to causing at least $550,000 in losses, and to paying at least $95,000 in bribes and kickbacks.
February 11, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Genetic Testing Company Agrees to Pay $1.99 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare for Medically Unnecessary Tests
The Justice Department announced today that GenomeDx Biosciences Corp. (GenomeDx) has agreed to pay $1.99 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. �� 3729 et seq., by submitting claims to Medicare for the Decipher® post-operative genetic test for prostate cancer patients. GenomeDx is a genetic testing laboratory headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations based in San Diego.
February 11, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Kentucky
Williamsburg Pharmacist Convicted of Unlawful Drug Distribution
LONDON, Ky. - Kimberly Jones, a Williamsburg pharmacist, was convicted last week, by a federal jury sitting in London, on seven counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
February 8, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Oklahoma
Marketer Agrees to Pay Nearly $340,000 for Allegedly Engaging in an Illegal Kickback Scheme with OK Compounding
TULSA, Okla. - James Paul Adams, 35, of Cypress, Texas, also known as Beau Adams, owner of the Texas marketing company One Source Healthcare Organization, LLC, agreed to pay the government $339,412.50 for allegedly accepting illegal kickback payments from OK Compounding, LLC, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
February 8, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida
Dunedin Psychologist Pleads Guilty To Obstruction Of A Medicare Audit
Tampa, Florida - Dr. Charles Gerardi (76, Dunedin) has pleaded guilty to obstructing a Medicare audit. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
February 8, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of South Carolina
Sumter Women Convicted of Healthcare Fraud for Over-Charging Government by Millions of Dollars
Columbia, SC - United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Angela Breitweiser Keith, age 53, and Ann Davis Eldridge, age 58, both of Sumter, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of false statements to defraud Medicaid.
February 7, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Florida
Two South Florida Doctors Arrested on Charges of Unlawfully Dispensing Opioids
Two South Florida doctors were arrested on charges related to the unlawful dispensing of opioids.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Electronic Health Records Vendor to Pay $57.25 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Greenway Health LLC (Greenway), a Tampa, Florida-based developer of electronic health records (EHR) software, will pay $57.25 million to resolve allegations in a complaint filed by the United States under the False Claims Act alleging that Greenway caused its users to submit false claims to the government by misrepresenting the capabilities of its EHR product "Prime Suite" and providing unlawful remuneration to users to induce them to recommend Prime Suite, the Justice Department announced today.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Massachusetts
Physician Sentenced to Prison for False Billing Scheme
BOSTON - A physician at the now-defunct New England Pain Management Associates Inc. was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiring to falsify patient medical records in order to obtain payments from Medicare and commercial insurers for medical services that were not performed.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Suspended Nurse Practitioner Indicted for Illegal Prescriptions
PITTSBURGH, PA - A suspended nurse practitioner has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of dispensing and distributing controlled substances and conspiring to distribute and dispense controlled substances, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Johnstown Opioid Treatment Center Owner Indicted For Unlawfully Dispensing Controlled Substances, Money Laundering
PITTSBURGH, PA. - The owner and operator of SKS Associates, Inc. (SKS) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, using or maintaining a drug involved premises, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Fourteen Individuals Charged for Operating "Pill Mills" and Illegally Prescribing Drugs to Hundreds of Patients in Multiple Locations in the Philadelphia Area
PHILADELPHIA, PA - United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced two indictments charging 14 people with a multitude of crimes, including conspiracy to dispense and distribute controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose; distribution of oxycodone; health care fraud; and maintaining a drug-involved premises. These charges are the result of coordinated law enforcement effort across multiple federal, state, and local agencies. U.S. Attorney McSwain announced these charges as part of a press conference held today to highlight the Eastern District of Pennsylvania's recent efforts to combat the opioid crisis in the District.
February 6, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Northern District of Georgia
Union General Hospital to pay $5 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations
ATLANTA - Union General Hospital ("UGH"), located in Blairsville, Georgia, has agreed to pay $5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper financial relationships with referring physicians.
February 5, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Pennsylvania
York Man Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nagy Mohamed Abdelhamed, age 68, of York, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones to health care fraud for his fraudulent receipt of Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamp) benefits.
February 5, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida
Clermont Eye Doctors Agree To Pay Over $157,000 To Settle False Claims Act Liability For Improperly Billing Medicare
Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Dr. Craig D. Fishman and Dr. Jeffrey A. Sheridan have agreed to pay the United States a combined total of $157,312.32 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing the government for mutually exclusive eyelid repair surgeries. Dr. Fishman and Dr. Sheridan are ophthalmologists who operate Fishman & Sheridan Eye Care Specialists.
February 4, 2018; U.S. Attorney; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Pentec Health, Inc. to Pay $17 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Pentec Health, Inc. ("Pentec") has agreed to pay the United States $17 million to settle allegations that Pentec submitted false claims to Medicare and other government healthcare programs.
February 1, 2019; U.S. Attorney; District of Arizona
Youth Care Worker Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Unaccompanied Minors in Southwest Key Facility
PHOENIX - On Jan. 14, 2019, Levian D. Pacheco, 25, of Phoenix, Ariz, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 19 years' imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Pacheco was previously convicted by a federal jury of seven counts of abusive sexual contact with a ward and three counts of sexual abuse of a ward. The statutory maximum sentence for sexual abuse of a ward is 15 years in prison and the statutory maximum for abusive sexual contact with a ward is 2 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Logan ordered several of Pacheco's counts to run consecutively.
February 1, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Ohio
Columbus Home Health Care Provider Sentenced for Fraud
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The co-owner of Alpha Star Health Care Inc. was sentenced today in federal court to 18 months in prison for running home health care fraud and tax fraud schemes.

January 2019

January 31, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Pennsylvania
Criminal Complaint Filed Against Suspended Nurse Practitioner for Illegal Prescriptions
PITTSBURGH - Larry J. Goissie, Jr., 34, of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegal distribution of Schedule II controlled substances, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
January 31, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Texas
UT Health Science Center Pays More than $2.3 Million to Resolve Allegations
HOUSTON - The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) at Houston has paid $2,396,769.76 to resolve allegations that its Human Genetics Center misappropriated grant funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided for research related to the impact of genomic variation on individual health and the health of families and populations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A component of UTHealth, UTHSCH is one of the largest research institutions in the United States.
January 30, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Pathology Laboratory Agrees to Pay $63.5 Million for Providing Illegal Inducements to Referring Physicians
Pathology laboratory company Inform Diagnostics has agreed to pay $63.5 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper financial relationships with referring physicians, the Justice Department announced today. Inform Diagnostics, formerly known as Miraca Life Sciences Inc., is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and was a subsidiary of Miraca Holdings Inc., a Japanese company, during the period relevant to the case. In 2017, majority ownership of the company changed, and the company was renamed.
January 30, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida
Clearwater Doctor Sentenced To Prison For Health Care Fraud
Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. today sentenced Jayam Krishna Iyer (66, Clearwater) to six months in federal prison for committing health care fraud, ordered Iyer to forfeit over $52,000 in health care fraud proceeds, and order her to pay restitution to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
January 29, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Two South Texas Doctors Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Separate Multi-Million Dollar Medicare Fraud Schemes
Two Houston, Texas physicians were sentenced to 25 and three-year prison terms for their roles in separate schemes to defraud Medicare out of payments for medical services.
January 29, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of Tennessee
WellBound of Memphis will pay $3,246,000 to the United States and the State of Tennessee for services rendered to patients at its Memphis facility that were in violation of the Anti-Kickback statute
Memphis, TN - WellBound of Memphis will pay $3,246,000 to the United States and the State of Tennessee to resolve allegations of false claims to Medicare, Tricare and Tenncare for services rendered to home dialysis patients at its Memphis facility. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced today.
January 28, 2018; U.S. Attorney; Middle District of Florida
Orlando Skilled Nursing Facility, Physician, And Related Providers Agree To Pay $1.5 Million To Resolve Allegations Of Illegal Kickback And Patient Referral Scheme
Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that on January 9, 2019, Conway Lakes NC, LLC; its former Administrator, Matthew File; its management company, Clear Choice Health Care, LLC; Clear Choice's part-owner and President, Jeffrey Cleveland; Clear Choice's part-owner and Senior Vice President, Geoffrey Fraser; and an Orlando-area orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Krumins, agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that they engaged in a kickback scheme related to the referral of Medicare and TRICARE patients.
January 28, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of Georgia
Doctor charged for prescribing narcotics to non patients, ordered detained until trial
SAVANNAH, Ga: A physician with clinics in Pooler, Ga., and Braselton, Ga., has been indicted for illegally prescribing drugs to non-patients and ordered held in custody pending trial in federal court.
January 28, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Western District of New York
Orchard Park Pain Doctor Pleads Guilty To Using Patient Names Fraudulently To Obtain Controlled Substances
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Dr. Paul Biddle, 54, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to identity theft and possession of unlawful hydromorphone HCL. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
January 23, 2019; U.S. Department of Justice
Walgreen Co. Agrees to Pay $3.5 Million to Settle Allegations Under the False Claims Act
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Walgreen Co. ("Walgreens") has agreed to pay $3.5 million to the United States and the State of Wisconsin to settle allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicaid for stimulant medications without complying with Medicaid rules designed to ensure that stimulants are dispensed for appropriate medical treatment.
January 22, 2019; U.S. Attorney; Southern District of New York
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces $269.2 Million Recovery From Walgreens In Two Civil Healthcare Fraud Settlements
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS-OIG"), Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of HHS-OIG's New York Regional Office, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service ("DCIS") Northeast Field Office, Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General ("DOL-OIG"), Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office ("USPS-OIG"), and Thomas W. South, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General ("OPM-OIG"), announced today that the United States filed and settled two healthcare fraud lawsuits against national pharmacy chain WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. ("WALGREENS"), pursuant to which WALGREENS must pay the United States and state governments a total of $269.2 million.

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