Just a few minutes west of New York City, a former medical imaging center owner is about to be sentenced for his role in a Medicaid fraud scheme. News media reports indicate that his sentencing was delayed for a few days after he was recently hospitalized.
He has been accused of being the leader of a scheme that bilked the program of approximately $8 million. He pleaded guilty more than two years ago to financial facilitation and conspiracy to commit bribery and admitted that he and paid kickbacks to doctors for patient referrals for tests at the medical imaging center.
His wife previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. She was sentenced to probation, though her husband faces up to eight years in a New Jersey prison.
Their Diagnostic Imaging Affiliates chain of medical imaging centers had 10 locations.
The defendant has asked the judge to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea, telling the court that he did not know that the agreement would require him to serve a minimum of three years in prison before he would become eligible for parole.
The husband and wife also agreed to pay $1 million in restitution, according to the news report.
Earlier articles said the man, his wife and his father had been charged in the scheme, along with 10 others.
Law enforcement officials said at the time of the arrest of the married couple, they seized more than $100,000 in cash, expensive jewelry and a number of luxury automobiles.
Investigations of possible violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute can in certain circumstances involve crucial safe harbor regulations. In those cases, your business practices are not treated as offenses.
A New York City attorney experienced in Anti-Kickback, Stark Law and related matters can assess your situation.