United States of America v. Angela Renfro, Briana Gosnell, Dr. Christiana Berkhohn, Einar Serrano Reyes, Meredith Rachael Douglas

Louisville, Kentucky, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendants charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, health care fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347, and aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028.

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Angela Renfro, 57, Briana Gosnell, 35, KLF Company LLC, and Freedom Center LLC, all of Louisville, Kentucky, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in connection with billing for services that were fraudulent, unauthorized, and in many instances, not rendered, resulting in the submission of $11,049,088.08 in fraudulent and unauthorized claims to Kentucky Medicaid, of which $10,735,081.56 was paid. As alleged in the indictment, KLF Company LLC entered into agreements with certain medical providers to provide services to its clients. As part of the conspiracy, Renfro and Gosnell used the providers' National Provider Identifiers (“NPIs”) to bill, through KLF Company LLC and Freedom Center LLC, for peer support and psychoeducation services that were fraudulent, unauthorized and, at times, not rendered. Renfro and Gosnell were also charged with aggravated identity theft for using the APRNs’ NPI numbers without their knowledge and permission. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari, Kayla Campbell, and David Weiser of the Western District of Kentucky, with the assistance of the Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. This case is being investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control.

Dr. Christian Berkhahn, 51, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged by information with conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud or deceit and health care fraud in connection with using his DEA number to order controlled substances in others’ names. As alleged in the information, Dr. Berkhahn, a physician, prescribed Cotempla, a Schedule II controlled substance, in his employee’s child’s name and requested the employee retrieve the prescription from the pharmacy and provide it to Dr. Berkhahn. As further alleged, Dr. Berkhahn prescribed oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the name of another individual, knowing that someone else would actually acquire the prescription from the pharmacy. Both drugs were paid for by Kentucky Medicaid. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari and Kayla Campbell of the Western District of Kentucky. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kentucky State Police, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control.

Einar Serrano Reyes, 35, of Opa-Locka, Florida, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with billing for services that were not rendered, resulting in the submission of $315,050 in false claims to Medicare. As alleged in the indictment, Reyes entered into a lease agreement on behalf of JL Serenity Center LLC for a building located in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of the conspiracy, Reyes credentialed JL Serenity Center LLC with Medicare in order to bill for medical services. As further part of the conspiracy, Reyes hired a medical doctor to allegedly oversee medical treatment at JL Serenity Center LLC. Ultimately, Reyes used the doctor’s NPI number to bill Medicare for services not rendered to any patients. Reyes is also charged with aggravated identity theft for using the name and social security number of another person without lawful authority when submitting the false Medicare claims. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari and Kayla Campbell of the Western District of Kentucky. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Meredith Rachael Douglass, 38, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged by indictment with theft of medical products, making false statements relating to health care matters, and acquiring and attempting to acquire controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge. As alleged in the indictment, Douglass, a registered nurse and hospital employee, stole controlled substances from the hospitals where she worked. As further alleged in the indictment, Douglass used her position to obtain fentanyl, hydromorphone, and oxycodone. Finally, as alleged, Douglass falsely documented vital signs and fentanyl administration for a patient after the patient had been discharged from the hospital. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari and Kayla Campbell of the Western District of Kentucky. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“Health care fraud steals from taxpayers, exploits vulnerable patients, and puts lives at risk,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Today’s historic enforcement action sends a clear message: if you use our health care system to enrich yourself at the expense of patients or the American people, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable. HHS will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect patients, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and restore integrity to our health care system.”

The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.

Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

The Western District of Kentucky, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kentucky State Police, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General, and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.