05/08/2023
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
MI Podiatrist Sentenced for Billing Medicare $1.8M Under False Identity
A Michigan podiatrist was sentenced to seven years in prison for orchestrating a healthcare fraud conspiracy that resulted in almost $2 million in false and fraudulent claims being submitted to Medicare, as well as for falsifying records and identity theft. According to court documents, Dr. Kenneth Mitchell, 61, of Wayne County, owned and operated a podiatry practice in Michigan specializing in on-site foot care provided to adult foster home residents. Mitchell had previously been suspended by Medicare for suspicious billing practices, banning him from receiving any Medicare funds while the suspension remained in place.
Source: US Department of Justice [5/4/23]
01/06/2023
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
OK Podiatrist to Pay Feds $7 Million in False Claims Act Suit
A podiatrist will pay $7 million to resolve claims he violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to healthcare programs for medically unnecessary and inappropriate levels of care between 2015 and 2019. The Seriousness of wounds was misrepresented, the complaint said. The federal government filed its complaint against Bryan Blanck on Tuesday, but this is actually “somewhat old news” because the settlement was finalized months ago in connection with an outstanding forfeiture case, said Blanck’s attorney, Elizabeth Stepp of Oberheiden PC.
Source: Daniel Seiden, Bloomberg Law [1/4/22]
07/01/2022
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
NY Podiatrist Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Amtrak of $1.6 Million
Michael DeNicola, DPM, admitted to his role in a healthcare fraud scheme, distribution of opioids and illegal possession of a firearm, the Justice Department said June 29. From 2019 to 2021, Dr. DeNicola, 59, and his conspirators billed the Amtrak healthcare plan for fraudulent claims, the department said. The claims were for services that were either not provided or were medically unnecessary. The scheme defrauded Amtrak of more than $1.6 million. Dr. DeNicola also gave oxycodone prescriptions to a person in exchange for the use of their patient and insurance information, the department said.
Source: Marcus Robertson, Becker’s ASC Review
06/29/2021
INTERNATIONAL PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
Aussie Podiatrist Disciplined for Accessing Child Porn
A Queensland podiatrist who accessed child exploitation material, which included a baby, more than 2,200 times and admitted to rape fantasies has been disqualified from applying to be a health practitioner for four years. Tyson Bryan-Anthony Franklin, 28, was in October 2018 found to have accessed child exploitation material on 2,211 occasions.
Source: Cloe Read, Brisbane Times [6/26/21]
08/06/2020
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
FL Podiatrist Charged With DWI, Causing Fatal Crash
A South Florida podiatrist is facing charges after allegedly causing a fatal car accident while driving drunk on the highway. 31-year-old Zeeshan Anwar is a podiatrist. He was allegedly driving southbound on I-95 in mid-February when he ran into a construction worker and smashed him against a pickup truck.
Source: Claudia DoCampo, NBC (Miami) [7/30/20]
09/30/2019
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
MI Podiatrists Charged with $1.7 Million Healthcare Fraud
Robert Cornfield, DPM, 55, of Rochester, Michigan, was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 17 and unsealed Friday with five counts of healthcare fraud. The charges stem from Cornfield’s alleged role in a $1.7 million healthcare fraud scheme in which Cornfield submitted or caused the submission of claims to Medicare for podiatric services he never provided. 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.
Anthony Weinert, DPM, 48, of Oakland, MI was charged in an indictment filed Sept. 24 and unsealed Friday with eight counts of healthcare fraud. Specifically, Weinert allegedly defrauded Medicare by submitting claims for nail avulsions, capsulotomies, and mass removals without actually providing the services.
Source: clickondetroit.com [9/27/19]
05/20/2019
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
MO Podiatrist Convicted of Defrauding Medicare of $1.4M
A federal jury on Thursday found a former St. Louis podiatrist guilty of defrauding Medicare, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Dr. Dawn Rhodes, 43, was found guilty of eight counts of engaging in a scheme to defraud Medicare and submitting false claims to Medicare. Rhodes billed Medicare for $1.4 million between 2013 and 2017 by falsely claiming that she provided routine nail care to patients in nursing homes and residential care facilities, when she either didn't or the patients didn't have a medical condition, such as circulatory problems, that required the care, prosecutors said.
Source: Robert Patrick, St. Louis Post-Dispatch [5/17/19]
09/05/2016
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
PA Podiatrist Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Pain Meds
A Mercer County podiatrist targeted by federal agents for illegally prescribing narcotics for no medical reason, has admitted his guilt in front of federal judges. Dr. Anthony Rossi, 66, a retired podiatrist in Hermitage, today waived indictment by grand jury and pleaded to distributing the pain medication Tramadol and to ripping off Medicaid with false bills for injections that he never administered.
Source: Torsten Ove, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [9/1/16]
06/20/2016
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
FL Podiatrist Found Guilty of Molesting Babysitter
A Weston podiatrist was found guilty by a jury Friday of molesting a 15-year-old girl whom he hired in 2012 to babysit for his four children. Closing arguments began in the morning with the defense asking the judge to give the jury the option of considering a lesser charge of battery in addition to the lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor charge that Dr. Augustine Bollo already faced, and the judge agreed. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced.
Source: Todd Tongen, WPLG Local 10 (ABC News) [6/17/16]
10/19/2015
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
IL Podiatrist and Two Executives Indicted on Healthcare Fraud Charges
A Chicago podiatrist, his wife, and the CEO of his healthcare company were indicted on charges involving the submission of false documents and reimbursement claims related to podiatric services purportedly provided. According to the indictment, Dr. Yev Gray is the owner and president of Aggeus Healthcare, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, which provides podiatry services to residents of long term care facilities.
According to the indictment, the defendants used an electronic medical record (EMR) system, which automatically inserted, into patient records, diseases and symptoms that the patients did not have. This was done to demonstrate to Medicare that the patients needed the services for which Aggeus Healthcare later billed Medicare. The defendants also pressured Aggeus podiatrists to provide unneeded services, such as Doppler studies, the incision and drainage of abscesses, and the removal of calluses.
Source: 7th Space Interactive [10/16/15]
08/25/2014
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
NC Podiatrist Arrested in Drug Case
An investigation into complaints about physicians’ alleged aggressive prescribing practices has resulted in charges against a Shelby foot doctor, according to Cleveland County authorities. The Sheriff’s Office said Dr. Steven Elliott Skorman was arrested Thursday at his office, Carolina Foot and Ankle. Skorman was charged with 19 counts of prescribing controlled substances without a legal medical purpose; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of counterfeit CD/DVD. He was jailed under $150,000 bond.
Source: Steve Lyttle, charlotteobserver.com [8/22/14]
05/07/2014
INTERNATIONAL PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
UK Podiatrist Cleared of Sexually Assaulting a Patient
A podiatrist falsely accused of sexually assaulting a patient says his court ordeal has left him “violated and broken”. Sixty of Yousef Kalami’s patients had written to Cardiff Crown Court, where the podiatrist was put on trial, to praise his treatment of them. The patients spoke of his care, kindness, and dignified approach and their shock at him being accused of dealing with a pensioner inappropriately – leading to two charges of sexual assault. Weeping tears of relief, moments after a jury had taken less than an hour to unanimously acquit him, the 59-year-old thanked his patients for their support since his arrest in October last year – a moment he said “devastated” him. “Without my patients and my family, I would not have survived this ordeal,” he said.
Source: Liz Keen, Wales Online [4/24/14]
12/24/2012
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
IN Podiatrist Sentenced in Healthcare Fraud Scheme
A suspended South Holland podiatrist will serve 18 months in a federal prison for his part in a health fraud scheme. In addition to the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Kocoras ordered Dr. Paschal U. Oparah, 47, to pay $791,095 in restitution, stated a U.S. Department of Justice news release. Federal authorities said Oparah, who pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud in April 2011, cooperated in the government’s investigation of House Call Physicians LLC in southwest suburban Palos Hills.
Source: Jim Masters, NWI Times [12/21/12]
09/24/2012
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
NY Podiatrist to be Sentenced for Healthcare Fraud and Tax Evasion
Federal prosecutors contend a judge should do more than just step on the toes of a podiatrist from Dongan Hills at his sentencing Friday on healthcare fraud and tax evasion convictions. They're recommending that Dr. Simon Levich be sentenced to 30 to 37 months in prison, according to court papers.
Dr. Levich, 56, has already agreed to forfeit $100,000, court documents show. Dr. Levich admitted to billing for services he rendered to patients under another podiatrist's identification number and to filing a false income tax return for 2004. Court papers said he stated his taxable income was $644,921 and he owed $200,365 in taxes when he knew the actual figures were "substantially greater."
Source: Frank Donnelly, Staten Island Advance [9/21/12]
02/11/2012
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
ME Podiatrist Indicted for Illegal Scripts
A former Portland podiatrist, who has been under investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration since 2010, has been indicted on 45 drug and healthcare fraud charges for writing illegal prescriptions. A federal grand jury indicted Dr. John Perry, 50, on charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, healthcare fraud, and 43 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Portland said today.
On all but one of the drug distribution charges, Perry faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. On the healthcare fraud charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Source: Leslie Bridges, Portland Herald [2/9/12]
02/18/2011
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
MI Podiatrist Charged With Medicare Fraud
Twenty medical providers from across Metro Detroit were charged today in federal court with billing Medicare for fraudulent charges. The 20, including an Oak Park podiatrist who federal prosecutors say billed Medicare for more than $700,000 in fraudulent toenail treatments, are the latest defendants ensnared in a nationwide crackdown on Medicare fraud.
The podiatrist, Dr. Errol Sherman, is among 20 people accused of orchestrating schemes to cheat Medicare. During a four-year period ending in 2006, Sherman submitted false claims to Medicare for toenail services that were never performed, according to an indictment filed today in U.S. District Court in Detroit. In one case, Sherman billed Medicare for 20 nail removal treatments on three toes of one patient, according to the indictment. Each treatment cost $110.
Source: Robert Snell, The Detroit News [2/17/11]
10/01/2010
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
NY Podiatrist’s Medicare Fraud Sentencing Delayed Amid New Allegations
The sentencing of a former Gates podiatrist who bilked Medicare of at least $400,000 was postponed today to investigate allegations that he is practicing medicine without a license. Michael L. Akyuz was scheduled to be sentenced for his guilty pleas in March to healthcare fraud and mail fraud, both felonies, for submitting fraudulent bills for foot-care services he provided at Rochester area nursing homes and independent living facilities.
U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa halted the proceeding after the prosecution argued that Akyuz, who has surrendered his license for at least three years, has continued to trim toenails at the facilities and collect fees directly from patients. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring said he believed Akyuz, 44, of Greece was falsely holding himself out as a doctor. Akyuz told Siragusa under oath that he clearly told patients that he is no longer a physician and claimed he was trying to build a new business in which he trimmed toenails without providing services that require a medical license.
Source: Michael Zeigler, DemocratandChronicle.com [9/28/10]
08/29/2009
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
CA Podiatrist Acquitted on Trumped Up Drug Charges But Must Start New Life
An Inland, CA podiatrist is trying to rebuild his life after being acquitted in a prescription fraud case that authorities said was nationwide. More than two years ago, Christopher Otiko was accused of ordering prescriptions illegally for his wife, who was arrested earlier in the same case. "It was the worst experience of my life," he said.
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Dr. Christopher Otiko |
Celeste Otiko, who was divorced from her husband in January, 2007, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, according to court records. She was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised released. Christopher Otiko, who lives in Riverside, said his ex-wife testified against him at trial. The trial began Aug. 10 in North Carolina. On Aug. 20, he was found not guilty on all 28 counts.
The arrests made news across the country leading friends who saw it to call him. Many friends and colleagues stopped communicating with him. Over time, he had to shut down his practice in Moreno Valley and had trouble finding another job. "I had a pretty good social standing in my community," he said. "I went from making quite a nice living to literally living below the poverty line." Now, he's trying to start over with a new career outside of medicine. "I've got to figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of my life," he said.
Source: Sonja Bjelland, The Press-Enterprise [8/26/09]
04/04/2009
PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW - PART 1
MO Podiatrist Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud
A St. Louis podiatrist pleaded guilty to obstructing a federal audit when providing the Medicare program with a false backdated treatment record, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said Thursday. Bic Chau Stafford, who practices at the Family Foot and Ankle Care Center in Maryland Heights, as well as assorted assisted living facilities in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstruction of a federal audit and now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines up to $250,000, when she is sentenced June 17.
Stafford, 59, billed Medicare for numerous complex foot surgery procedures allegedly provided to 39 local Medicare beneficiaries when she was really providing these patients with only routine foot care, such as toe nail clipping, prosecutors said.
When she was audited by the Medicare program in 2007, Medicare denied her claims for reimbursement regarding these 39 beneficiaries and requested that she repay $6,840 for non-covered services that had been previously paid to her. Stafford challenged this and as part of her efforts to avoid paying the overpayment, Stafford created new treatment records for those 39 patients in 2007, back-dating them to 2004, using fraudulent treatment information and claiming that she had provided these patients with podiatric surgical procedures, prosecutors said.
Source: St. Louis Business Journal [4/2/09]
