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$127M Scheme: Business Owner From Chestnut Ridge Admits To Being Major Figure In Scam, Feds Say
A marketing company owner from Rockland County admitted in federal court that he was a major figure in scamming Medicare, TRICARE, and other benefit programs out of $127 million.
Eric Karlewicz, age 44, of Chestnut Ridge, participated in a “circular scheme of kickbacks and bribes” with doctors, durable medical equipment businesses, and telemedicine companies to pull off the massive con, US Attorney Vikas Khanna said.
Karlewicz – also known as Anthony Mazza -- used his considerable cut from $63.8 million in payoffs to buy himself a fleet of luxury vehicles that included a Ferrari, a Lamborgh…
Pharmacy Owner From Great Neck Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Two pharmacy owners, including one from Long Island, are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a massive health care fraud scheme, authorities said.
Taesung Kim, age 58, of Great Neck and Dacheng Lu, age 44, of Flushing, Queens are each accused of submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, May 2, in federal court in Brooklyn.
The pair owned and operated four pharmacies located in Brooklyn and Queens.
According to federal prosecutors, between January 2015 and December 2022 Kim and Lu conspired with others to subm…
Tappin' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals
The now-former manager of a fund for traumatic brain injury patients in New Jersey admitted diverting more than $4.5 million in public money to women he was having sex with, authorities said.
Harry Pizutelli, 64, of Edison, pleaded guilty by videoconference to conspiring to commit health care fraud before a federal judge in Trenton, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
One of the women who benefitted from the scheme, Maritza Flores, 45, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to the same charge, as well as to tax evasion, Sellinger said.
In exchange, Pizutelli had amorou…
2 PA Nursing Facilities Falsified Records In 2 Conspiracy Schemes: Usdoj Indictment
Five individuals and two for-profit nursing facilities in Pennsylvania have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh in connection to two conspiracy schemes, authorities say.
Brighton Rehab and Mount Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, along with the following people were indicted on 15 counts, US Attorney Cindy Chung and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Tuesday, August 9:
Sam Halper, 39, of Miami Beach, Florida.
Eva Hamilton, 35, of Beaver.
Susan Gilbert, 61, of Lawrence.
Michelle Romeo, 46, of Hillsville.
Johnna Haller, 41, of Monaca.
The I…
Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case
A 32-year-old former Farifield County resident pleaded guilty to a health care fraud offense that she committed while waiting to be sentenced for a separate health care fraud charge.
Nicole Steiner, a former Stratford resident, pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday, July 29, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Steiner, who is now a resident of Edison, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on April 28, in relation to the operation of Helping Hands Academy, LLC in Bridgeport, which offered app…
Stratford Woman Awaiting Sentencing In Fraud Case Arrested For Same Offense
A Fairfield County woman who pleaded guilty to health care fraud was arrested and accused of committing the same offense while released on bond.
Nicole Steiner, age 32, of Stratford, was arrested on Monday, May 2, and charged with committing health care fraud, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Steiner had pleaded guilty on April 28, 2021, in a separate health care fraud case, Boyle said.
Following her arrest on Monday, she was released into home detention under electronic monitoring on a $250,000 bond, according to the announceme…
Hartford County Man Sentenced For Wide-Ranging $1.3M Medicaid Fraud Scheme
A former licensed professional counselor was sentenced for operating a scheme to defraud the Connecticut Medicaid Program of more than $1.3 million.
Hartford County resident Cortney Dunlap, age 37, of Burlington, was sentenced on Friday, March 11, to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Dunlap was also ordered to pay restitution to Medicaid of $1,313,322, Boyle said.
He pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on June 4, the US Attorney's Office reported.
From 201…
Man Sentenced In Suffolk County 'Birth Tourism' Health Care Fraud Scheme
A 50-year-old man has been sentenced on charges related to a "birth tourism" health care fraud scheme he operated on Long Island.
Ibrahim Aksakal, a Turkish national, was sentenced on Tuesday, March 8, to 27 months in prison for conspiring to commit health care and wire fraud, according to an announcement from Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Aksakal was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,039,723.63, and forfeiture in the amount of $397,500, according to the announcement.
Between 2017 and 2020, Aksakal operated a scheme in Suffolk Count…
Doctor From Great Neck Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme
A Long Island doctor has admitted to sending Medicare bills for millions of dollars for procedures that were never performed.
Morris Barnard, age 58, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 7, to health care fraud, according to Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
“With today’s guilty plea, Dr. Barnard admits to committing a multi-million dollar fraud on the Medicare program by billing for procedures he did not perform,” Peace said. “By claiming to render services to disabled and other vulnerable patients, Dr. Barnard not only pocketed taxp…
