4 Convicted in California for $154M Medical Insurance Fraud

November 28, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

Orange County prosecutors say four people have been convicted of crimes relating to a $154 million medical fraud scheme in which hundreds of healthy patients underwent unnecessary surgeries to fraudulently bill insurance companies.

Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office, says 64-year-old Roy Dickson, 58-year-old Andrew Harnen, 63-year-old Dee Francis and 66-year-old Rosalinda Landon were found guilty of multiple tax fraud counts.

The four were convicted for their roles in recruiting more than 250 healthy patients to undergo sometimes dangerous surgeries to fraudulently bill insurance companies.

The four were among 19 defendants charged in the case, which has been divided into several trials because of its size.

A total of 13 have been indicted by a grand jury and six others pleaded guilty prior to indictment.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: West NewsTopics: California, Fraud, insurance fraudHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

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Appeals Allow Louisiana Cardiologist Convicted of Fraud to Remain Free

November 28, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A former Lafayette cardiologist is asking to remain free pending a request that the U.S. Supreme Court hear an appeal of his 2009 health-care fraud conviction and 10-year prison sentence.

The Advocate reports Dr. Mehmood M. Patel, who is accused of billing insurers for more than $2 million in unnecessary heart procedures, has avoided prison while appealing his federal conviction for the past three years.

The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Patel’s conviction sentence in August, and the court last week denied a request to reconsider the case.

Patel’s attorney, Amy Adelson, has asked the appeals court to allow Patel to remain free pending his request that the U.S. Supreme Court review the case.

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Md. Woman Convicted of Disability Fraud, Faces Up to 5 Years in Jail

October 12, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticle1 Comments

Prosecutors say a woman who collected federal disability benefits while operating a fitness center has been convicted of making false statements to obtain those benefits.

A jury convicted 48-year-old Darlene Altvater of Mechanicsville, Maryland, on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. She faces up to five years in prison at sentencing Jan. 7.

According to evidence presented at trial, Altvater, who worked for the Postal Service, sustained on-the-job head and neck injuries. She began collecting federal workers’ compensation benefits in 2001.

Prosecutors say from January 2005 through December 2011, Altvater operated a salon, day spa and fitness center. Witnesses testified that Altvater demonstrated the use of fitness equipment. She was still receiving disability benefits.

 

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: East NewsTopics: Fraud, Maryland, workers' comopensationHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

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Arkansas Doctor Convicted in Bombing Loses Lawsuit

April 23, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

An Arkansas doctor convicted in a bombing that nearly killed the head of the state medical board lost a separate wrongful death case on April 20 and was ordered to pay $300,000 to family members of a former patient who died.

Randeep Mann, who ran a pain clinic in Russellville, had his license to prescribe narcotics suspended by the Arkansas State Medical Board after several of his patients suffered fatal overdoses. Jurors in the criminal case found him responsible for the 2009 bombing outside the home of Dr. Trent Pierce, the board chairman, who prosecutors said Mann targeted in retaliation for the board’s decision.

In the separate wrongful death case, Mann was sued on behalf of the estate of Robin Dee Woodall. The trial began April 16 in Dardanelle, The Courier in Russellville reported.

The lawsuit alleged that Mann prescribed Woodall at least 10 different medications before she died in 2003. An autopsy report showed she died of multiple drug intoxication, according to the lawsuit, which sought more than $75,000.

Attorneys pointed to incidents in 2003 and 2006 when Mann was sanctioned by the medical board for violating the state’s medical practices law.

Mann’s lawyers had said they were prepared to defend his care of Woodall. They also argued in court filings that the civil case should have focused only on Woodall’s case, not Mann’s entire medical career.

Mann is incarcerated at federal prison in Pennsylvania, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. He was sentenced to life in prison last year after he was convicted of a weapon of mass destruction count and other charges. Mann is appealing those convictions.

Investigators said they found nearly 100 grenades and a cache of machine guns at or near Mann’s home, though almost all of the firearms were legally registered.

 

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: Texas / South Central NewsTopics: Arkansas, doctor, lawsuit, medical malpractice, pill mill, Randeep MannHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

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