UAW Busted Funding Political Campaigns With BCBS Healthcare Kickbacks In Michigan

Michigan Governor Gretch Whitmer had to fund her campaign, somehow.

Blue Cross has given more cash to Whitmer than any Michigan gov candidate in past decade

I wonder if this will be used, somehow, for election nullification?

This is not going to end well for "The Elected Ones".

Feds: Michigan doctor, cohorts targeted UAW workers in $8M kickback scheme

A Michigan doctor and two associates face prison time for their roles in an $8 million health care kickback scheme involving United Auto Workers members, federal officials said Wednesday.

Investigators say Dr. April Tyler of Fenton, along with two associates, Patrick Wittbrodt and Jeffrey Fillmore, targeted the workers' coverage through Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan because of the high reimbursement rate.

Using Fillmore's connections, the group promoted scar cream, pain patches and vitamins during UAW meetings, telling members they could receive their prescriptions free without paying a cop-pay at the pharmacy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement Wednesday.

The cohorts would collect the members' insurance information, and Tyler authorized the prescriptions for them or their relatives, according to the feds.

Although she didn't examine the workers or determine their medical needs, Tyler also pre-signed forms and allowed Wittbrodt and Fillmore to choose which compounded creams, patches and vitamins to write on the prescriptions, prosecutors reported.

Wittbrodt directed the prescriptions to various pharmacies, which would fill each, bill the autoworkers' insurance as well as pay a kickback he then shared with Tyler and Fillmore, court records show.

“According to court documents, the defendants caused an approximate $8,000,000 loss to Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan,” the attorney’s office said Wednesday. “Some of this money was stolen from UAW members’ prescription insurance accounts.”

The prescriptions were periodically refilled regardless of whether the UAW members requested it.

“These unlawful prescriptions cost the UAW health care fund millions of dollars, and the end result was a rip-off of the hardworking men and women of the union,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said.

"We will continue to aggressively prosecute health care fraud, and step in to protect UAW workers across Michigan.”

Tyler pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to violating the anti-kickback statute and agreed to 18-24 months in prison, per federal sentencing guidelines, Schneider's office said Wednesday, citing court records.

Wittbrodt, 44, of Grand Blanc and Fillmore, 31, of Clio have both pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud, according to the release. Wittbrodt faces 70-87 months in prison. Fillmore faces 37-46 months.

“We rely on medical professionals to uphold the integrity of the prescription drug programs by only prescribing medications that are medically indicated and necessary,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

“Circumventing this process solely for personal, financial gain compromises the integrity of these systems and takes away valuable healthcare dollars from patients who truly need the medications.”

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Stealin' The Children, Land & Votes - The Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Detroit Land Bank Authority & Detroit Economic Club

Over the last few days, it seems I have some really interested .xyz individuals who have taken a statistically significant interest the following post:

Michigan Medicaid Fraud To Be Discussed In Appropriations

I decided to satisfy the lust of the .xyz individuals about this post by illuminating the original example of stealin' the children, land & votes because it all started in Detroit, where, in this instance, is the Detroit Economic Club and its network animus of co-conspirators.

Board of Directors for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund,

Chairperson

Tom Damschroder

 Tim Damschroder, of Ann Arbor, is a member of Bodman PLC, where he heads the Business Practice Group, advising clients in matters involving mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, general business, corporate governance, securities offerings, and tax. He served on the board of directors of the Washtenaw United Way, the Washtenaw County Red Cross, and on the advisory group of Ann Arbor Angels. Damschroder holds bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. He represents the general public.

In 2013, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Damschroder to the newly created Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board. The Fund, which was created under Public Act 4 of 2013, will benefit the health and wellness of Michigan residents through programs focusing on children and seniors. Damschroder serves as treasurer of the Fund, which is expected to receive up to $1.56 billion in contributions over 18 years.Vice Chair

Lynne Alexander

 Lynn Alexander, of Bloomfield Hills, is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. She also serves as president of Your Aging Well Advisor, a consulting and education firm for consumers over 50. Alexander has served on the Commission on Services to the Aging and as director of the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. She also has experience with the White House Conference on Aging, the Help America Vote Act Advisory Council, and the Elder Abuse Reporting Protocol advisory group and maintains involvement in several community organizations. Alexander holds a bachelor’s in social work from Defiance College and earned a master’s degree in psychology from Lone Mountain College, which is now known as the University of San Francisco. She represents the interests of senior citizens.

It looks like Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare.

Lynn Alexander Appointed to BCBS board overseeing $1.6B health fund

A law signed this year to modernize Blue Cross required it to contribute up to $1.6 billion to a foundation that will take on some of its charitable work. The money may be spent on infant mortality, wellness and fitness programs and other areas.

Alexander is vice president of public affairs for Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.

ASSET FORFEITURE THROUGH CORPORATE PARENTAL RIGHTS

Remember Marianne Udow, former Director of Michigan Department of Human Services, who went over to Blue Cross Blue Shied?

Michigan Health Endowment Fund Board Meeting Monday, July 21, 2014 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Treasurer

Keith Pretty

 Keith Pretty, of Midland, is president and CEO of Northwood University, a position he has held since 2006. He previously served as president and CEO of Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration. His previous experience includes work for the State of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Amoco Corporation, the Michigan Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives. Pretty holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Michigan University and a degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He represents the general public.

Pretty and the Detroit Economic Club

 Marco Rubio, one of the many Spokestokens for the DEC

Secretary

Susan Jandernoa
Grand Valley
Board of Trustees

 Susan Jandernoa, of West Olive, taught fourth, fifth, and sixth graders for 30 years at East Grand Rapids Public Schools before retiring in 2004. She is a member of the Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan, the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan, the YMCA Advisory Board, and is a local board president for Ele’s Place. Jandernoa holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Central Michigan University. She serves as the nominee of the Speaker of the House.

What we do ~ We steal Medicaid from Child Welfare, then use the funds for personal investments in land we stole from the Detroit in fake ass property tax & bogus mortgage forclosures, then snatch up the properties in the name of the tax exempt god from the fake ass Detroit Land Bank Authority, then mortgage a few times in federal grants, wiping them out in quiet titles, run the financial boon out the U.S. through children's trust funds, mostly the Ukraine, then funnel back to fund U.S. campaigns, to get chosen spokestokens elected by taking over the administrations of local & state governments, to get more crappy predictive modeling Social Impact Bond private state contracts in child welfare, where we never have to pay taxes because it is all done as a foreign takeover the U.S. in the name of the tax exempt god. 

https://www.42np.com/48/community

We support the development of Michigan as an outstanding state in which to live, learn, work, and raise a family, with a particular focus on West Michigan.  We do this by committing our leadership, talent, and financial resources, in particular to key initiatives and effective organizations seeking to collaboratively and positively enhance:

• Education
• Wellness and Healthcare
• Families and Quality of Life
• Individual Responsibility
• Jobs (see also Entrepreneurship)
• Public policy - particularly focused on the first five of these priorities

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=Dick+DeVos

---

Our community stealin' partners include

They invest in their own overseas business ventures with
Medicaid fraud in child welfare.

https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2017/383/083/2017-383083625-0f8a92be-F.pdf

http://www.teachingworks.org/

http://www.wmpolicyforum.com/

https://businessleadersformichigan.com/

http://www.talent2025.org/

Rob Fowler

Rob Fowler, of Haslett, is president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, a 10,000 member business trade association. He previously worked for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Department of Commerce. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Small Business Association, the Michigan Health Insurance Access Advisory Council and the Haslett Board of Education. He represents the business community.

Rob Fowler
https://lansingrotary.org/stories/biography-for-rob-fowler

As president/CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), Rob Fowler is a registered lobbyist representing small business before the Michigan Legislature. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Small Business Association and serves on the board of the newly created nonprofit organization MiQuest, whose mission is to make Michigan the State of Entrepreneurship. In October 2013, he was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to serve on the Board of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and currently serves as board chair. SBAM, which was founded in 1969, serves more than 23,000 member companies from all of Michigan’s 83 counties. A leading voice for growing the state’s entrepreneurial community through a strategy known as “economic gardening,” SBAM helps Michigan’s small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy.

International symbol of stealin'

Fowler joined SBAM in 2000 and was vice president of the subsidiary corporation, Small Business Insurance Services, until July 2003, when he became president. Before moving to Michigan, he was the executive director of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) in Cleveland, Ohio from 1995 to 2000. A former lobbyist for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for ten years, he served as executive director of the Indiana Small Business Council and was on the staff of the Indiana Lt. Governor for two years.

He is the former chair of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan and has served as chair of the Business Advisory Committee of the Michigan Hospital Association. A graduate of Ball State University with a degree in political science, Rob and his wife Lisa live in Haslett with their son Reid and daughter Emma.

Henry Veenstra

A source of stealin'

https://www.kalfound.org/About/WhatsNew/ViewArticle/tabid/190/ArticleId/156/KZCF-Family-Children-Services-partnership-will-help-kids-in-crisis.aspx

Henry Veenstra, of Zeeland, was the President of Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, a position he held for more than four decades. During his tenure, Veenstra directed all strategic planning, construction of a new facility, and the transition of Zeeland Community Hospital to membership in the Spectrum Health System. In addition to being a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Hospital Association Foundation. Veenstra serves as the nominee of the Senate Majority Leader.

https://www.michiganbusiness.org/
https://www.miplace.org/

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/2019/08/cocktails-popcorn-pence-came-to-detroit.html

Michigan Life Sciences Corridor

Michigan State University Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building.
University of Michigan Biomedical Science Building, a 2007 AIA honor award winner.
The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor (MLSC) is a $1 billion biotechnology initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan.
The MLSC invests in biotech research at four Michigan institutions: the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; Michigan State University in East Lansing; Wayne State University in Detroit; and the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation administers the program. It began in 1999 with money from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry. When the program's funds distributions are completed in 2019, the goal is that the investments in high tech research will have notably expanded the state's economic base.
History
In 1998, the State of Michigan, along with 45 other states, reached the $8.5 billion Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a settlement with the U.S. tobacco industry.[1] Former Governor John Engler created the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor in 1999 when he signed Public Act 120 of 1999.[2] The bill appropriated money from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry to fund biotech research at four of Michigan's largest research institutions.[3]
Under the management of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MLSC allocated $1 billion over the course of 20 years, including $50 million in 1999 to fund research on aging.[4] The following year, the MLSC awarded $100 million to 63 Michigan universities.[5] In 2002, Governor Jennifer Granholm incorporated the MLSC into the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor, adding funding for homeland security and alternative fuel research.[6]
In 2009, the University of Michigan added a 30-building, 174-acre (0.70 km2) North Campus Research Complex by acquiring the former Pfizer pharmaceutical corporation facility.[7]
A BioEnterprise Midwest Healthcare Venture report found that Michigan attracted $451.8 million in new biotechnology venture capital investments from 2005 to 2009.[8][9]

Alexis Wiley

Alexis Wiley, of Detroit, is Chief of Staff for Mayor Mike Duggan, where she oversees the implementation of the Mayor’s initiatives, legislative affairs and external communications. Prior to joining the administration, Wiley was a reporter and anchor at WJBK Fox 2 Detroit. Her Emmy award-winning work has appeared on local television stations across the country and cable networks such as Fox News and CNN. Wiley is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, a member of The Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves on the board of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Wiley serves as the nominee of the House Minority Leader.

I still want to know about FOX2Detroit and their financial fundraising activities with St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Residential Facility.

http://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=detroit+children%27s+fund#axzz67MjB8fwI

Michael Williams

Michael Williams, of Westland, is the president and CEO of Orchards Children’s Services, Michigan’s largest foster care and adoption agency. He has served in this capacity since 2003. Previously, he was president of Detroit-based Starr Vista Inc., and held various positions with Starr Commonwealth, in Albion. Williams is an adjunct professor at Albion College, and received the “Heroes” award from Michigan’s Children in 2007. He holds many professional memberships and is involved in several community organizations. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Albion College and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Eastern Michigan University. He represents the interests of minor children.

Michael Williams is dumb as dirt. I only say this as an original source, where I am more than willing to swear an oath in the court, under penalty of law, to this fact....wait a minute...I already did.

Cindy Estrada and her
international symbol of stealin'

Cindy Estrada is serving her third four-year term as a UAW Vice President and currently heads the Fiat Chrysler and Women’s Departments.

She earned a degree in education from the University of Michigan and had planned to become a teacher. After organizing with the United Farm Workers union on an internship she was drawn to union organizing instead.

Estrada worked as a UAW Region 1A temporary organizer successfully organizing a number of Parts suppliers.  She helped organize workers at Mexican Industries in southwest Detroit in 1995, resulting in one of the UAW’s largest victories among Spanish-speaking manufacturing workers.

Estrada’s organizing ability was recognized by then UAW President Stephen P. Yokich, who appointed Estrada to the UAW International’s organizing staff in 2000.

She was soon appointed to Coordinator of Michigan organizing and ran the Michigan Organizing Center.  In 2007 UAW Vice President Terry Thurman appointed her as the Administrative Assistant over the Organizing Department. After Terry Thurman’s retirement UAW President, Ron Gettlefinger appointed Estrada as the Director of the National Organizing Department.

She was first elected UAW Vice President in 2010 and assigned to direct the unions UAW Independents, Parts and Supplier/Competitive Shop Department; Public Sector and Health care servicing department and the UAW Women’s Department. While in that role she was the lead negotiator for over 17,000 UAW workers in the State of Michigan.

Estrada also led negotiations for the Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions, providing historic agreements protecting health care and establishing vital programs addressing privatization and workplace democracy for over 35,000 state employees.

As director of UAW Independents, Parts and Suppliers/Competitive Shop Department Estrada proudly honored the reason Walter Reuther urged the departments establishment in 1968: to use the UAW’s parts worker density to establish minimum industry-wide compensation standards in IPS contracts. This resulted in breakthrough agreements in seating and other major auto component part industries.

Four years later, she became the first woman and first Latina to lead the union’s General Motors Department.

The long-time organizer and activist is involved with many labor and community organizations. Estrada is a proud member of UAW Local 174, having worked at Impressions in Taylor, MI. She is the mother of twin 15-year-old sons, stepmother to four and grandmother of six. She is the widow of the late UAW organizer and retired Administrative Assistant Frank White.

Cindy sold out. That broke my heart.

 Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Michigan Illegitimate Governor Gretchen Whitmer Recall Petitions & More

Gretchen Whitmer has multiple challenges to her authority pending in the legal system...

She has challenges with her campaign finance.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=gretchen+whitmer+dana+nessel

She has issues with the certification of her election.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=gretchen+whitmer+matt+schneider

She definitely has a serious trafficking tiny humans situation in the courts.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=bcbs

You can even challenge the validity in the execution of oath of office.

I have yet to mention MDP or DNC tales but I will say #perkinscoiesucks.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/p/detroit-land-bank-authority-leaks.html

#maytheheavensfall

Michigan Board of Canvassers Whitmer EO Notice 91020 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

DOJ: Midwest Health Care Fraud Law Enforcement Action Results in Charges Against 53 Individuals Alleging $250 Million in Loss - Michigan

How come no one mentioned that Michigan Medicaid Fraud Control Unit?

Awwwww.....

I wonder why?

Not really.

Get 'em.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced today a health care fraud law enforcement action in Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota.  Charges were filed against 20 individuals in the Eastern District of Michigan for their alleged involvement in Medicare fraud schemes resulting in $144.8 million in illegitimate billings.  In the Northern District of Illinois, charges were filed against 12 individuals for their alleged involvement in Medicare fraud schemes resulting in over $103 million in illegitimate billings. Of those charged in the two federal districts, seven were doctors or licensed medical professionals.  In addition, in the state of Minnesota, 21 defendants, including two licensed medical professionals, have been charged with defrauding Medicaid for almost $3 million. Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigated these cases.  

Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF) partners, a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and U.S. Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). 

The charges announced today aggressively target schemes billing Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary procedures, medical procedures that were never provided and prescription medications that often were never purchased and/or distributed to beneficiaries.

“Health care fraud robs taxpaying Americans and corrupts the relationship between doctors and patients,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “Today’s actions in the Midwest are further proof of the Department’s steadfast commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who put their personal greed above the public good.” 

“I applaud the actions taken by our law enforcement partners to seek out and hold accountable those who choose to defraud our health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan.  “These charges should send a strong message to health care professionals that theft from these vital programs will be met with serious consequences.”

“The abuse of our healthcare programs affects all taxpayers, who foot the bill to make coverage available,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office.  “These offenders stole American taxpayers' hard-earned money to line their own pockets. We thank our federal and state partners for their collaborative efforts to stop this systemic fraud.”

“As we pursue these cases, our focus is always on the beneficiaries and taxpayers who rely on us to protect the integrity of Medicare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the HHS-OIG Chicago Region.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who steals taxpayer dollars and threatens the integrity of this vital benefit.”

*********

Among those charged in cases handled by Strike Force attorneys in the Eastern District of Michigan are the following:

James Letko, 46, of Pittstown, New Jersey; Steven King, 41, of Pembroke Pines, Florida; Patricia Flannery, 40, of Hellertown, Pennsylvania; Katherine Peterson, 33, of Millford, New Jersey; and Rami Lazeki, 40, of Plymouth, Michigan, were charged in an indictment filed Sept. 26 with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud.  The charges stem from an alleged $80 million, multi-prong health care fraud scheme run by Letko, the CEO of A1C Holdings; King, its chief compliance officer; Flannery and Peterson, members of its management team; and Lazeki, pharmacist in charge at All American Medical Pharmacy.  All five allegedly conspired to direct employees of multiple subsidiary pharmacies under A1C Holdings to conceal Letko’s ownership in the subsidiary pharmacies; falsify contracts with pharmacy benefit managers to conceal Letko’s ownership interest; classify subsidiary pharmacies as mail order when in fact they were retail pharmacies; authorize refills without patient consent and fail to collect co-pays to induce patients to accept refills of medically unnecessary medications and diabetic testing supplies.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Assistant Chief Malisa Dubal of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

Regina Black, 50, of Shelby Township, Michigan, owner of Rehabilitative Counseling and Behavior Services of America of Clinton Township, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 17 and unsealed today with five counts of health care fraud and three counts of wire fraud.  The charges stem from Black’s alleged role in a $4.9 million health care fraud scheme, in which she advertised and offered services, such as dancing, field trips and other social activities for Medicare enrollees at senior residential buildings.  Using the enrollees’ Medicare numbers, Black allegedly caused Medicare to be billed for individual and group psychotherapy services that were not medically necessary, not rendered and/or not otherwise eligible for reimbursement through Medicare.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorneys Steven Scott and Claire Sobczak of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

Robert Cornfield, D.P.M., 55, of Rochester, Michigan, a podiatrist and owner of Robert H. Cornfield, DPM PC of Rochester, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 17 and unsealed today with five counts of health care fraud.  The charges stem from Cornfield’s alleged role in a $1.7 million health care fraud scheme in which Cornfield submitted or caused the submission of claims to Medicare for podiatric services he never provided.  Specifically, Cornfield allegedly defrauded Medicare by submitting claims for nail avulsions without actually performing the service.  From January 2010 through July 2019, Cornfield allegedly billed Medicare for more than 17,000 nail avulsion procedures, ranking him among the highest in the country for that procedure.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorneys Steven Scott and Jay McCormack of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

Anthony Weinert, D.P.M., 48, of Oakland, Michigan, owner of Anthony Weinert DPM P.C. in Warren, Michigan, and Troy Surgicare in Troy, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 24 and unsealed yesterday with eight counts of health care fraud.  The charges stem from Weinert’s alleged role in a $1.7 million health care fraud scheme, in which Weinert submitted or caused the submission of claims to Medicare for podiatric services he did not provide.  Specifically, Weinert allegedly defrauded Medicare by submitting claims for nail avulsions, capsulotomies and mass removals without actually providing the services.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorneys Jay McCormack and Steven Scott of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

Christopher Fratine, 52, of West Branch, Michigan, owner of Unity Home Health Care LLC of West Branch, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 26 with nine counts of health care fraud and three counts of wire fraud.  The charges stem from Fratine’s alleged role in an $18.2 million home health care fraud scheme in which he submitted or caused the submission of claims for home health episodes that were not provided.  The FBI, HHS-OIG, and Michigan State Police investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Steven Scott of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.  

Sharon King, 66, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was charged in a superseding indictment filed Sept. 19 and unsealed today with three counts of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks.  One of the counts alleges that King engaged in these acts while on supervised release.  These charges come in addition to her original charge for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which was originally filed in June 2018 and which remains pending.  The charges stem from King’s alleged role in a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare in excess of $2.5 million for physician and home health services that were medically unnecessary, never provided and induced by kickbacks.  As part of the scheme, King allegedly provided kickbacks, including prescriptions for controlled substances, to Medicare beneficiaries who agreed to accept physician services from Thomas Mays, M.D. and referrals for home health services provided by Personal Touch, Inij Home Healthcare and other home health agencies.  These purported home health and physician services were allegedly often medically unnecessary, not actually provided and/or induced by health care kickbacks.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Jay McCormack is prosecuting the case, which Trial Attorney Tom Tynan of the Fraud Section initially handled.  

Farzana Haris, 59, of Canton, Michigan, owner and operator of Inij Home Health Care, was charged in an information filed Sept. 26 with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The charge stems from Haris’ alleged role in a scheme with co-conspirators Sharon King and Dr. Thomas Mays, M.D. to fraudulently bill Medicare approximately $1.1 million for home health services that were medically unnecessary, never provided and induced by kickbacks.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Jay McCormack is prosecuting the case, which Trial Attorney Tom Tynan initially handled.  

Charles Hobson Sr., 78 of Southfield, Michigan, co-owner and operator of Personal Touch Home Health Care, and Charles Hobson, Jr., 50, of Lathrup Village, Michigan, co-owner and operator of Personal Touch Home Health Care were charged in an information filed Aug. 23 with one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks and bribes in connection with a federal health care program. The charge stems from the Hobsons’ alleged role in a scheme with co-conspirator Sharon King, in which the Hobsons paid kickbacks to King and other patient recruiters in exchange for recruiting Medicare beneficiaries to Personal Touch. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Jay McCormack is prosecuting the case, which Trial Attorney Tom Tynan initially handled.  

Mohamed Gomaa, 28, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, a licensed pharmacist and owner of MedlifeRx Pharmacy of Auburn Hills, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 26 with four counts of mail fraud.  The charges stem from Gomaa’s alleged role in a $3.48 million scheme that dispensed expensive and medically unnecessary medications, using forged or fraudulent prescriptions, and sent them by mail to Medicare, Medicaid, BCBS and other private insurance beneficiaries who did not want or need them.  Gomaa then allegedly billed Medicare and the other various insurance programs and insurers for the high-cost drugs.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Patrick Suter of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

Yogesh Pancholi, 40, of Northville, Michigan, owner of Shring Home Health Care (Shring) of Livonia, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 24 and unsealed yesterday with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two counts of health care fraud and two counts of money laundering.  The charges stem from Pancholi’s alleged role in a $2.8 million home health “bust out” scheme for the submission of request for advance payments or RAPs.  Pancholi allegedly submitted RAP claims through Shring for services not prescribed or rendered to Medicare.  The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Patrick Suter is prosecuting the case.

Kenneth Mitchell, D.P.M., 57, of Southfield, Michigan, a licensed podiatrist and minority owner of Urban Health Care Group LLC of Southfield, Michigan, was charged in a superseding indictment filed Sept. 17 and unsealed yesterday with one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation.  These charges come in addition to Mitchell’s original charges filed Sept. 17 consisting of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and three counts of health care fraud.  The charges stem from Mitchell’s alleged role in a $1.8 million scheme by which he and co-conspirators submitted false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary podiatry and other services on behalf of Urban Health Care Group LLC.  HHS-OIG investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Patrick Suter of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

Among those charged in cases handled by Strike Force attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois are the following:

Mark Sorensen, 50, of Chicago, Illinois, and Paulina Goncharova, 30, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were indicted on Sept. 24 on one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks and three counts of kickbacks.  Sorensen was the owner and Goncharova was the Vice President of Finance for Symed, a Medicare-enrolled durable medical equipment (DME) pharmacy in Chicago, Illinois.  The charges stem from Sorensen and Goncharova’s roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from Medicare for braces including paying kickbacks to purchase signed doctors’ prescriptions and falsification of business records.  Between April 2015 and April 2018, Symed billed Medicare approximately $87 million, and was paid $25 million for DME claims.  Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

Altamash Mir, 43, formerly of Oak Brook, Illinois and Palos Hills, Illinois, owner of a home health “consulting” business and concealed owner of home health agencies; Muhammad Ateeq, 31, of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, a biller and concealed owner of home health agencies; Nadir Mir, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada, manager of a home health agency; Tasneem Jamal, 66, formerly of Oak Brook, Illinois and Palos Hills, Illinois, administrator and nominee owner of a home health agency; Hamdeh Chatat, 37 of Highland, Indiana, administrator of a home health agency and a home health “consultant”; Bilal Malik, 41, of Palos Hills, Illinois, Las Vegas, Nevada, and San Bernadino, California, nominee owner of a home health agency; Kendria Cochran, 28, Chicago, Illinois, manager of multiple home health agencies; and Luis Ramos, 28, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, manager of multiple home health agencies, were charged on Sept. 26, 2019, in a 35-count indictment that alleges health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, concealment of money laundering, false statements relating to health care matters, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property of greater than $10,000 in value.  The charges stem from the defendants’ alleged roles in at least approximately a $40 million fraud scheme in which home health agencies were acquired using fake aliases and/or nominee owners and used to submit fraudulent claims for home health services that were never rendered.  Trial Attorney Patrick Mott and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Daniel are prosecuting the case.

Renato Duarte, Psy.D., 60, of Chicago, Illinois, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 19 and unsealed today with six counts of health care fraud.  The charges stem from Duarte’s billing for providing psychological counseling services to patients who he did not see, including while he was traveling outside of the Chicago area.  This caused at least approximately $1.07 million in loss between June 2016 and April 2019.  Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.   

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The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, MFSF maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts and has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

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