Oct. 11, 2023

Compounding pharmacy owner sentenced to 18 months and over $6 million in restitution

A former Jenks resident has been sentenced to 18 months for conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge George K. Frizzell sentenced Christopher Parks, 62, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Parks to pay $6,400,651.57 in restitution. "Christopher Parks violated the trust of patients and abused Federal Health Care programs and private insurance companies to cheat taxpayers and pad his pockets," said U.S Attorney Clint Johnson. "This office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute insurance and medical fraud."

Oct. 10, 2023

New York Man Admits Role in $127 Million Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

A New York man and owner of a marketing company today admitted his role in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and to pay and receive illegal kickbacks, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced. Eric Karlewicz, aka "Anthony Mazza," 44, of Chestnut Ridge, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback statute and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Oct. 6, 2023

SDTX and RI USAOs jointly resolve False Claims Act violation

U.S. Attorney's Offices in two districts have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani and Zachary A. Cunha, U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Texas and Rhode Island, respectively. RPS Group Inc. held several contracts with the federal government. Between June 2011 and July 2020, in order to maximize revenue and avoid hitting budgetary ceilings, the company unlawfully engaged in a practice of moving recorded labor hours between government projects with different funding sources, according to the allegations in the investigation. RPS also allegedly submitted invoices for work that was not performed on government contracts and falsely inflated employee billing rates. These practices occurred across numerous government contracts and resulted in the submission of false invoices to multiple government agencies, according to the allegations.

Oct. 5, 2023

U.S. Attorney's Offices in Rhode Island and Southern District of Texas Resolve Violation of False Claims Act Recovering More Than $465,000

The United States Attorney's Offices for the District of Rhode Island and the Southern District of Texas have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group, Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced United States Attorneys Zachary A. Cunha and Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Oct. 5, 2023

Laredo ophthalmologist charged in repetitive harmful eye procedure fraud scheme

A 54-year-old Austin resident has been indicted for health care fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dr. Michael Hochman made his initial appearance today and is set for arraignment Oct. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos. A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment Sept. 27. According to court documents, Hochman is an ophthalmologist who owned and operated Michael A. Hochman P.A. and Laredo Laser & Surgery Ltd. in Laredo.

Oct. 5, 2023

Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed Forces

On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Justice Department then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20 order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.

Oct. 4, 2023

Rochester man sentenced for falsifying documents submitted to the Army

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Reginald Cannon, 55, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to two years' probation, fined $200,000, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $315,944.

Oct. 2, 2023

Two Anne Arundel County Men, Including Department of Defense Deputy Chief, Charged with Facilitating Dog Fighting Ring

A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., age 62, of Arnold, Maryland, and Mario Damon Flythe, age 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland with promoting and furthering animal fighting venture. The criminal complaint was filed on September 21, 2023, and was unsealed at the defendants' initial appearances on September 28, 2023. At their initial appearance, U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson ordered that the defendants be released pending trial under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.

Sept. 30, 2023

United States Settles Kickback Allegations with Specialty Pharmacy BioTek reMEDys, Inc., its Owner Chaitanya Gadde, and Dr. David Tabby

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that BioTek reMEDys, Inc. ("BioTek"), located in New Castle, Delaware, and its Chief Executive Officer, Chaitanya Gadde, have agreed to pay $20 million based on BioTek's ability to pay to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks to patients in the form of routinely waived copayments and to physicians in exchange for providing patient referrals to BioTek.

Sept. 29, 2023

Behavioral Services Healthcare Provider and its Owner Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Connex Family Services, LLC (Connex), located in Warrenton, and Bianca Riddle, 33, a resident of Gloucester, have agreed to pay $918,000 to settle a civil fraud case that claimed Connex and Riddle submitted or caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and TRICARE. The government alleged that Connex and Riddle submitted claims to TRICARE and Medicaid for applied behavioral analysis services that were not provided during the period from March 1, 2019, through November 13, 2021. Connex's behavioral analysis services are provided to children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other related disorders.