Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to $29.1 Fraudulent Medicare Fraud Scheme

Mark J. Mandell, Esq.

For five years, Sachin Sharma of Detroit, 37, oversaw and directed the operations of a broad network of home health, psychotherapy, and medical clinics. As the ringleader of the operation, Sharma – with the help of many – fraudulently billed Medicare for $29.1 million in medically unnecessary claims. Now, Sharma has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of tax evasion this month.

Apart from the fraudulent kickbacks, Sharma also trained others in techniques used to both defraud the system as well as conceal the fraud. By directing employees to fabricate and alter medical documents, the broad network of home health, psychotherapy, and medical clinics involved gave the impression that medical services were provided.

As a result of the scheme, Sharma admitted to receiving substantial proceeds of the fraud from these companies, however, he failed to report these proceeds on his individual federal income tax returns. Moreover, Sharma failed to file tax returns from 2007 to 2011.

               

At sentencing, Sharma faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Several of Sharma’s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud for their roles in the scheme, and one remains a fugitive.

To learn more about Michigan’s drunk driving laws, or if you yourself have been charged, please visit: www.michiganfraudlawyer.com or contact Mark Mandell or Tariq Hafeez at (248) 380-9976.

To read the original article, please visit: http://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2013/leader-of-29.1-million-medicare-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty-in-detroit