TL/DR –
Six individuals from Massachusetts and New York have been accused of a health care fraud scheme, billing insurance companies for over $1 million in false medical costs for supposed overseas treatments. The accused allegedly submitted fraudulent health insurance claims for costly medical treatments that were supposedly paid for while travelling outside the U.S., including hospitalizations due to stabbings, car crashes, and shootings. The defendants are also accused of providing counterfeit documents to support their claims; they allegedly remained within the U.S. during the supposed hospitalizations abroad.
Six Accused of Over $1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
Five residents from Massachusetts and one from New York are accused of a health care fraud scheme. They allegedly billed health insurance companies for over $1 million in fake medical costs for treatment supposedly received while abroad.
Massachusetts residents Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler, Henry Ezeonyido, Chinenye Nwodim and New York resident Ariel Lambert are all facing charges of health care fraud, according to a press release from the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The defendants allegedly submitted fraudulent health insurance claims for expensive medical treatments they supposedly paid for while traveling. The insurance claims, billed to four health insurance companies, suggested they had been hospitalized following incidents like stabbings, hit-and-run accidents, and shootings.
Prosecutors say they also provided fake records to support the claims, including bank documents showing hospital payments, medical records showing the treatments received, and police reports detailing their injuries. Some of the fake documents were remarkably similar in terms of incident dates, locations, and nature.
The defendants allegedly were actually in the U.S. during the periods they claimed to have been hospitalized overseas. Furthermore, some are claimed to have undergone unrelated medical treatments in the U.S. during the same periods.
“These defendants allegedly fabricated over $1 million in insurance claims for non-existent injuries, creating a massive drain on our healthcare system,” commented Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. “Such deceit is not just illegal, but it diverts resources from those genuinely in need and drives up costs for everyone.”
All the defendants are out on personal recognizance after their arraignments in federal court in Boston. The charge of health care fraud carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or double the gross gain or loss from the offense.
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News