Houston, TX - Physician and Two Clinic Operators Found Guilty for Their Roles in $17 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A federal jury found a physician and two clinic owners and operators guilty on September 18, 2018 for their roles in a $17 million Medicare fraud scheme.

John P. Ramirez (Ramirez), M.D., 64; Ann Nwoko Shepherd (Shepherd), 62; and Yvette Nwoko (Nwoko), 30, all of Hous... More...   $0 (09-19-2018 - TX)

New York, NY - Four Defendants Sentenced Following Convictions At Trial For Stealing Confidential Government Information And Using It To Engage In Illegal Trading

Robert Khuzami, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that DAVID BLASZCZAK, a political intelligence consultant, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison... More...   $0 (09-13-2018 - NY)

Detroit, MI - Detroit-Area Podiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud

A Detroit-area podiatrist was sentenced to 28 months in prison today for his participation in a $1 million scheme involving podiatry services that were billed to Medicare but were never rendered.

Lawrence Young, D.P.M., 70, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Judith ... More...   $0 (09-11-2018 - MI)

Albuquerque, NM - East Mountain Family Practice Doctor Pays $300,000 to Resolve Alleged False Claims to Federal Healthcare Programs for Services Rendered While Out of Country

Settlement also Resolves Alleged Violations of Controlled Substances Act Relating to Signed, but Otherwise Blank, Prescriptions Available for Use While Out of the Country

Orrin K. McLeod, D.O., a family prac... More...   $300000 (09-08-2018 - NM)

Pittsburgh, PA - Suboxone Clinic Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Dispensing Controlled Substances, Health Care Fraud

A prescribing physician with SKS Associates, an opioid treatment facility located in Johnstown, PA, guilty in federal court to charges of dispense and distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and health care fraud,.

D... More...   $0 (09-04-2018 - PA)

This case involves a dispute over retiree healthcare benefits. Retired union member Ronald Cup and similarly situated retirees requested—and the District Court ordered—arbitration of the dispute under the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), 29 U.S.C. § 185. Ampco Pittsburgh Corporation, its subsidiary Akers National Roll Company, and Akers’ health and welfare benefit plan (collectively, the Com... More...   $0 (09-04-2018 - PA)

Miami, FL - Co-Owners of Miami Pain Management Clinic Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Medically Unnecessary Opioid Prescriptions

The husband and wife co-owners of a Miami pain management clinic and a patient recruiter pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for their participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute thousands of pills of oxycodone.... More...   $0 (08-29-2018 - FL)

Beaumont, TX - Ambulance Company and its Municipal Clients Agree to Pay over $21 Million

To Settle Allegations of Unlawful Kickbacks and Improper Financial Relationships

Seven ambulance industry defendants have agreed to pay the government a total of over $21 million to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging that they knowingly submitted claims to the Medicare and Medicaid pr... More...   $21000000 (08-28-2018 - TX)

Los Angeles, CA - California Doctor Convicted of Medicare Kickback Conspiracy

A federal jury in Los Angeles, California found a Lancaster, California doctor guilty on August 23, 2018 of conspiracy for his role in a Medicare kickback conspiracy involving a Los Angeles-area home health agency.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Di... More...   $0 (08-26-2018 - CA)

Philadelphia, PA - Two Additional Defendants Sentenced to Prison in Conspiracy That Looted Money from Nonprofit Mental Health Clinic

Two former employees of the Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic in Philadelphia were sentenced on August20, 2018, for their roles in the conspiracy led by Renee Tartaglione, the former head of the nonprofit mental health clinic, to take money from the cli... More...   $0 (08-21-2018 - PA)

After drinking three or four containers of beer, Nature got into his vehicle outside of the El Portal Community Center. He planned to drive fifteen miles along a curvy mountain road to his campsite in Yosemite National Park. Bystanders saw him stagger and stumble while heading to his vehicle. They tried to persuade him not to drive and even parked behind his vehicle. A National Park Service ranger... More...   $0 (08-17-2018 - CA)

East St. Louis, IL - Durable Medical Equipment Provider Lincare Pays $5.25 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Lincare, Inc., has paid $5.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by offering illegal price reductions to Medicare beneficiaries, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Headquartered in... More...   $0 (08-17-2018 - IL)

Los Angeles, CA - Prime Healthcare Services and CEO to Pay $65 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., Prime Healthcare Foundation, Inc., and Prime Healthcare Management, Inc. (collectively Prime), and Prime’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Prem Reddy, have agreed to pay the United States $65 million to settle allegations that 14 Prime hos... More...   $65000000 (08-03-2018 - CA)

New York, NY - Doctor Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Participating In $30 Million Scheme To Defraud Medicare And Medicaid

Mustak Y. Vaid, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield to 18 months in prison for his participation in a $30 million scheme to defraud Medicare and the New York State Medicaid Program. VAID falsely posed as the owner of a medical clinic, w... More...   $0 (08-02-2018 - NY)

Detroit, MI - Michigan Physician Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances

A Detroit-area physician pleaded guilty on August 1, 2018 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for his participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute more than 23,000 pills of Oxycodone.

Alex Kafi, M.D., 70, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count o... More...   $0 (08-01-2018 - MI)

On March 10, 2017, the Davidson County Grand Jury indicted Defendant in Case No. 2017-A-538 on four counts of theft of property in the value of $1,000 or less, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, five counts of criminal impersonation, three counts of aggravated burglary, and two counts of forgery. On March 30, 2017, the Davidson Count... More...   $0 (08-01-2018 - TN)

Alexandria, VA - Former Owner of Sleep Study Businesses Convicted of Fraud Conspiracy

A federal jury convicted a Sterling, Virginia woman on July 31, 2018 on health care fraud and tax charges for operating a fraudulent sleep study clinic in Northern Virginia.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Te... More...   $0 (07-31-2018 - VA)

This case revolves around a facet of life familiar to any American who receives a paycheck: tax withholding. Federal law requires employers to withhold taxes from their employees’ wages to account for the income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes each individual owes. Known as “payroll taxes” or “trust fund taxes,” they represent an essential means by which the federal government collects tax... More...   $0 (07-27-2018 - )

After Jon Hartman and Dan Ott co-founded Spectrum Tool & Design, they divvied up management responsibilities. Ott was supposed to handle the company’s payroll taxes, a task that required him to withhold federal taxes from employees’ wages and send the money to the Internal Revenue Service on a regular basis. When Spectrum encountered financial difficulties, however, Ott failed to pay the taxes sev... More...   $0 (07-26-2018 - MI)

Mobile, AL - Two Consulting Companies and Nine Affiliated Skilled Nursing Facilities to Pay $10 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Medically Unnecessary Rehabilitation Therapy Services

Southern SNF Management, Inc., Rehab Services in Motion d/b/a Dynamic Rehab and nine affiliated skilled nursing facilities in Florida and Alabama have agreed to resolve allegations ... More...   $0 (07-18-2018 - AL)

St. Louis, MO - St. Louis County Doctor Pleads Guilty to Obstructing FBI Investigation

Dr. Vidal Sheen, 58, St. Louis County, Missouri, pled guilty to obstructing an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) regarding whether he billed the Medicare program and private insurers for “face to face” office visits performed on dates when he was actually traveling outside of ... More...   $0 (07-18-2018 - MO)

Kansas City, MO - KC Husband, Wife Plead Guilty to Failure to Pay $328,000 in Business Taxes

A Kansas City, Mo., couple pleaded guilty in federal court today to failing to pay more than $328,000 in payroll and other taxes for their construction business.

William Mack Gilreath, also known as “Billy,” 38, and his wife, Malaika Samantha Gilreath, 42, each waived their right to a gra... More...   $0 (07-18-2018 - MO)

Jacksonville, FL - United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Liberty Ambulance For $1.2 Million

After a multiple-year investigation and the government’s intervention into a whistleblower suit in 2015, the United States announces a $1.2 million settlement with Liberty Ambulance. In reaching this settlement, the parties have resolved allegations that, from June 29, 2005, to... More...   $0 (07-11-2018 - FL)

Albany, NY - Health Quest and Putnam Hospital Center to Pay $14.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Health Quest Systems, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (Health Quest) and Putnam Health Center (PHC) have agreed to pay over $14.7 million to resolve allegations of violations of the False Claims Act by submitting inflated and otherwise ineligible claims for payment. New-... More...   $14700000 (07-10-2018 - NY)

This is a qui tam action alleging violations of the False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31
U.S.C. §§ 3729–33, involving fraudulent reimbursements under the Medicare Act, 42
U.S.C. §§ 1395–1395ccc. Plaintiff Gerald Polukoff, M.D., is a doctor who worked with
Defendant Sherman Sorensen, M.D. After observing some of Dr. Sorensen’s medical
3
practices, Dr. Polukoff brought this FCA action, o... More...   $0 (07-10-2018 - UT)