After a two-week jury trial, Defendant-Appellants Theodore Okechuku, Elechi Oti, Emmanuel Iwuoha, and Kevin Rutledge were convicted of conspiring to unlawfully distribute hydrocodone outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose as part of an alleged pill mill. Okechuku was also convicted of two additional firearm counts—using, carrying, and brandishing a fire... More...   $0 (10-05-2017 - TX)

The trial in this case offers two narratives. One of a hardworking man
who, angered by failures of guardrails installed across the United States—with
sometimes devastating consequences—persuaded a Texas jury of a concealed
cause of those failures. The other of the inventive genius of professors at Texas
A&M’s Transportation Institute, who, over many years of study and testing,
... More...   $0 (10-04-2017 - TX)

John King and Tammy Drummond (collectively, “Relators”) appeal the
district court’s grant of summary judgment to Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., on
their False Claims Act (“FCA”) claims and a subsequent ruling that partly
granted court costs to Solvay. For the reasons explained below, we AFFIRM.
2
I. Background
Relators are both former Solvay sales and marketing employees. Th... More...   $0 (09-15-2017 - TX)

Houston, TX - Houston Home Health Agency Owner Sentenced to 480 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Defraud Medicare and Medicaid of More Than $17 Million

The owner and operator of five Houston-area home health agencies was sentenced on August 18, 2017 to 480 months in prison for conspiring to defraud Medicare and the State of Texas’ Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) ... More...   $0 (08-22-2017 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Dallas Doctor Sentenced on Health Care Fraud Conviction

A 60-year-old doctor from Rockwall, Texas, Jacques Roy, who was convicted in April 2016 of various health care fraud charges following a six-week-long trial, was sentenced on August 9, 2017 by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 420 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $268,147,699.15 in restitution, joint and s... More...   $0 (08-11-2017 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Garland Couple Who Stole/Unlawfully Obtained Patient Identification Information Sentenced to Federal Prison Terms - Husband is a Former Parkland Hospital Employee and Wife is a Former Nurse at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas - Used Info toSolicit Patients for Their Home Health Agency

A former employee at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas (Parkland), Viju Mathew, a... More...   $0 (08-03-2017 - TX)

E. Peter Healey (Pete) appeals from an adverse judgment rendered after a jury trial in this family dispute involving duty and money. Initially brought by his father, Edwin N. Healey (Bud), against Pete and his brothers Paul C. Healey and Mark J. Healey, the suit widened when Pete named his siblings, Elizabeth Healey (Liza) and Michael R. Healey (Mike) as third-party defendants. Pete asserts ten is... More...   $0 (07-12-2017 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Owner of Apple of Your Eye Healthcare Services, Inc. Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy

Wilbert James Veasey, Jr., 65, of Dallas, was sentenced on a health care fraud conspiracy conviction.

Veasey was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 210 months in federal prison and order to pay $23,123,897.18 in restit... More...   $0 (06-13-2017 - TX)

Houston, TX - Medicare Fraudster Given Maximum Prison Sentence

A Houston woman and a California man have been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to defraud Medicare through so-called diagnostic testing labs in the Houston area. Zaven “George” Sarkisian, 55, of Fresno, California, and Konna Hanks, 48, of Houston, pleaded guilty Dec. 9 and 2, 2015, respectively.

U.S. District... More...   $0 (06-04-2017 - TX)

Houston, TX - Houston-Area Psychiatrist Convicted of Health Care Fraud for Role in $158 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A federal jury convicted a Houston-area psychiatrist today for his role in a $158 million Medicare fraud scheme.　　

After a five-day trial, Riaz Mazcuri, 65, of Harris County, Texas, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud... More...   $0 (05-24-2017 - TX)

Tyler, TX - Smith County Husband and Wife Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

A Smith County couple was sentenced for health care fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Gerard Dengler, 61, and Suzanne Dengler 52, of Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2017, to conspiring to commit health care fraudand were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartf... More...   $0 (05-06-2017 - TX)

Appellant Pamela A. Albright appeals from the trial court’s order granting Appellee Good Samaritan Society – Denton Village’s motion for traditional summary judgment. We modify the judgment and affirm as modified.
1See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
2
I. BACKGROUND
Good Samaritan sued Albright on a sworn account and, alternatively, for breach of contract and quantum meruit, alleging that Al... More...   $0 (04-20-2017 - TX)

The jury heard evidence that Douglas owned and operated a company, North Texas
Medical Evaluators (NTME), that provided workers’-compensation-related medical services to
entities that were insured by TMIC. One such service, and the one at issue in this case, was the
Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), a medical evaluation used to determine an injured worker’s
ability to return t... More...   $0 (04-18-2017 - TX)

Tyler, TX - Smith County Husband and Wife Guilty in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

A Smith County couple pleaded guilty to charges of health care fraud.

Gerard Dengler, 61, and Suzanne Dengler, 52, of Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud.

According to information presented in Court, the Denglers owned and operated Elite Lab Services, a cl... More...   $0 (01-15-2017 - TX)

Defendants appeal their convictions for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and several substantive counts of health care fraud. Defendants primarily challenge the sufficiency of the evidence, the court’s deliberate ignorance jury instruction , a number of evidentiary rulings, and the enhancements applied to their sentences. We AFFIRM. I. Defendants Dennis Barson, Jr. and Dario Juarez were ... More...   $0 (12-29-2016 - TX)

Tyler, TX - East Texas Laboratory Company and Owners Agree to $3.75 Million Payment for False Medicare Claims

Elite Lab Services, LLC, along with its husband-and-wife owners Gerard and Suzanne Dengler, will pay the United States $3.75 million after billing Medicare for tens of thousands of miles that were never driven by Elite Lab’s personnel.

“The United States Attorney’s Office... More...   $3750000 (12-25-2016 - TX)

On December 1, 2012, Hugo Iguirre picked up his wife Ivette from her night
job, and they then went to Ivette’s brother’s house—where they were staying the
night—arriving about 3:30 a.m. A small, white SUV sped up and parked behind
them. Ivette believed the vehicle to be a Dodge Nitro or similar model. Four or
five men jumped out carrying rifles and claiming to be police. Th... More...   $0 (12-08-2016 - TX)

San Antonio, TX - Waco Woman and Former DTS Medical Supply Company Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with $4.5 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

Robin Renee Haigler, 60-year-old former customer recruiter in the Waco area for DTS Medical Supply Company in Devine, TX, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for her role in an estimated $4.5 million Health Care Fraud sch... More...   $3269300 (11-11-2016 - TX)

San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Doctor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure To Pay Withholding Taxes and Tax Evasion

Anthony P. Sertich, Jr., age 60, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $2.9 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

On March 2, 2016, a federal jury convicted Sertich of ten counts of failure to truthfully accoun... More...   $0 (09-12-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Prefered Imaging, LLC to Pay $3,510,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Preferred Imaging, LLC, (Preferred Imaging), a provider of diagnostic imaging services, has agreed to pay $3,510,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for services performed without proper medical supervision in violation of the False Claims Act and the Texas M... More...   $3510000 (11-30--0001 - TX)

Houston, TX - Montgomery County Woman Convicted of Social Security Fraud

A 67-year-old Willis woman admitted she stole the identity of a deceased woman and used it for financial gain for nearly 20 years.

Jerrie Mona Chesney pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money.

In the late 1980s, Chesney read in a local newspaper about the death of a woman who had lived i... More...   $0 (07-10-2016 - TX)

Waco, TX - Jury Convicts Owner of DTS Medical Supply Company in Devine, TX, and Office Manager in Connection with $3.5 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

A jury returned guilty verdicts against 55–year-old DTS Medical Supply Company owner Daniel Thomason Smith and 45-year-old DTS office manager Kathleen Marina Kelly-Tuorila in connection with an estimated $3.5 million Health Care Fraud sch... More...   $0 (07-03-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - North Richland Hills Physician Admits Role in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

A licensed physician from North Richland Hills, Texas, Byron Felton Conner, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud stemming from a scheme to defraud Medicare through the submission of false claims for physician home visits and home health care services.

Con... More...   $0 (06-19-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Houston Physician Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

Two defendants in a nearly $3 million fraudulent vestibular diagnostic testing scheme have been ordered to federal prison. Dr. Augustine Egbunike, 61, pleaded guilty Jan. 16, 2015, while Loretta Mbadugha, 58, also of Houston, entered a plea for her role in the scheme Dec. 12, 2014.

U.S. District Judge Melin... More...   $2000000 (06-10-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Dallas Doctor and Three Dallas-Area Home Health Agency Owners Convicted for Running Large-Scale, Sophisticated Health Care Fraud Scheme

Following a six-week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay and less than two days of deliberation, a federal jury convicted a Dallas physician and three owners of home health agencies on various felony offenses, including consp... More...   $0 (04-17-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Houstonians Plead Guilty in $13 Million Health Care Fraud Case

The leader and four others charged in a $13 million Medicare and Medicaid health care fraud case have entered guilty pleas for their respective roles.

Mkrtich “Mike” Yepremian, 58, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and paying kickbacks to marketers of Medicare and Med... More...   $0 (03-04-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Registered Nurse Co-Owner of Ultimate Care Home Health Services, Inc. Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy

Conspiracy Involved Dr. Jacques Roy of Medistat Group Associates and Others

A 52-year-old registered nurse and home health company owner from Cedar Hill, Texas, was sentenced this morning in federal court in Dallas on a... More...   $0 (01-19-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Dallas-Based Home Heath Company Owners and Nurses Charged for Roles in $13.4 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

The co-owners of a home health company in Dallas and two nurse employees were charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday for their alleged participation in a $13.4 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services.

Assistant ... More...   $0 (12-23-2015 - TX)

Plano, TX - Texas Nurse Convicted of Health Care Fraud

A Denton County, Texas, nurse has been convicted of 9 counts of health care fraud in the Eastern District of Texas.

Florence Kroma a/k/a Florence Kamara a/k/a Florence Koroma a/k/a Florence Bangura, 55, of Denton, Texas, was found guilty by a jury of nine counts of health care fraud following a four day trial before U.S. Dis... More...   $0 (12-21-2015 - TX)

Amarillo, TX San Angelo, Texas, Psychiatrist Sentenced to Serve 71 Months in Federal Prison on Health Care Fraud Conviction

Dr. Robert Hadley Gross Also Fined $100,000 and Ordered to Pay More Than $1.8 Million in Restitution

A licensed psychiatrist from San Angelo, Texas, Robert Hadley Gross, 58, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 71 months in fed... More...   $1800000 (12-17-2015 - TX)

Houston, TX - Jury Convicts Former City of Houston Doctor of Health Care Fraud

A jury has returned a guilty verdict against a former staff physician for the City of Houston of 14 counts of health care fraud in a $1 million health care fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jocelyn Pyles-Elo, M.D., 58, was convicted following a 3 ½ day trial in Houston.

The jury h... More...   $0 (11-20-2015 - TX)

Houston, TX Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud Medicare

A Houston businessman has entered a guilty plea to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of more than $6.6 million.

At a hearing held today before U.S. District Kenneth Ellison, Robert Manning, 60, admitted he participated in a three-year conspiracy to defraud Medicare by paying kickbacks to Medicare b... More...   $0 (10-29-2015 - TX)

This case involves a claim against a hospital by a visitor who fell in the hospital lobby. The
question is whether it is a health care liability claim under the Texas Medical Liability Act. See TEX.
CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ch. 74. We conclude it is not, because the record does not demonstrate
a substantive relationship between the safety standards the visitor alleged the hospital bre... More...   $0 (10-31-2015 - TX)

Felix Maduka pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to structure bank withdrawals to avoid reporting requirements and eight counts of structuring bank withdrawals to avoid reporting requirements. See 31 U.S.C. § 5324(a)(3) and (d)(2); 18 U.S.C. § 371. He was sentenced to concurrent, within-guidelines sentences of 60 months in prison on each count, to be followed by three years of supervised r... More...   $0 (10-29-2015 - TX)

Houston, TX - Clinic Manager Guilty of Health Care Fraud

The owner and operator of Elite P. Care Medical Services has been convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in a $1 million fraud scheme. Verona Spicer, 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt.

Spicer admitted that she hired a physician to sign patient medical documents at ... More...   $0 (10-05-2015 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Employment Staffing Agency Owner Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Failure to Pay Over Payroll Taxes

A local man who admitted failing to pay over payroll taxes for tax years 2008 through 2012 was sentenced today.

Luis Morales was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means to 24 months in federal prison and order to pay approximately $209,000 in restit... More...   $0 (09-30-2015 - TX)

This is an appeal of a trial court’s order denying a motion to compel arbitration filed by Specialty Select Care Center of San Antonio, LLC d/b/a Casa Rio Healthcare and Rehabilitation. After the parties’ briefs were filed, this court abated this appeal pending the Texas Supreme Court’s decisions in three appeals from this court. See Williamsburg Care Co. L.P. v. Acosta, 406 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. App.—... More...   $0 (09-02-2015 - TX)

McAllen, TX - Area Ambulance Company Owner Pleads Guilty in Health Care Fraud Scheme

The owner of Vic’s Texas Transport, Inc. (dba Victory EMS) has been convicted of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Victor Lee Gonzalez, 28, of Mission, entered his guilty plea before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa.

As p... More...   $0 (09-22-2015 - TX)

McAllen, TX - McAllen Area Marketer Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme

A marketer for several area home health agencies has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit health care fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud the Medicare program, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Martha Lidia Flores, 51, of Pharr, admitted to engaging in a kickback scheme of exchang... More...   $0 (08-28-2015 - TX)

Cardiovascular Provider Resources Inc. appeals a jury verdict in favor of Charles Gottlich, M.D. on his claim for misappropriation of his name. Bringing four issues, CPR contends the evidence is legally insufficient to support the jury’s findings on liability and damages. CPR further contends the trial court erred in failing to award it attorney’s fees under the Texas Theft Liability Act. After re... More...   $0 (08-18-2015 - TX)