Health Care Fraud Fugitive Gets 27 Months

Health Care Fraud Fugitive Gets 27 Months

POSTED: 2:56 pm MST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 3:22 pm MST February 24, 2009
PHOENIX -- A former Phoenix woman was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sheri Dawn Blackburn, 46, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $88,441.30.

Blackburn was a fugitive for almost five years and pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement in connection with a health care benefit program on July 23, 2008, said Sandy Raynor of the District of Arizona Office of the U.S. Attorney.

Blackburn had been indicted in August 2003 on one count of theft in connection with a health care benefit program and one count of false statements relating to health care matters, but never appeared in court and became a fugitive, said Raynor.

The case against Blackburn was based on an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, said Raynor. It indicated that in 1998 Blackburn was hired by Eldorado Claims Services, a benefit claims processing company, to supervise health care claims processing.

While working here, Blackburn created a fictitious doctor and paid claims to this doctor for services that were never rendered. Blackburn then cashed 14 checks issued to this false identity, totaling $88,441.30, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After failing to appear in court for her indictment, Blackburn was a fugitive for nearly five years, said Raynor.

In March 2008, the Employee Benefits Security Administration found Blackburn in Iowa and alerted the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the U.S. attorney’s Office.

Blackburn was arrested in Eddyville, Iowa and was extradited to Arizona, where she has remained in federal custody, said Raynor.
Copyright 2009 by KPHO.com

University Pain Specialists, a clinic where prosecutors said he participated in a $12 million Medicare scam in which mentally ill and elderly adults r

Thursday, August 21, 2008
Newport Beach doctor surrenders license in fraud case
Dr. Paul Lessler pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud.
BY COURTNEY PERKES
The Orange County Register
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A Newport Beach doctor who last year pleaded guilty to committing Medicare fraud surrendered his medical license today, the California Medical Board reported.

Dr. Paul Lessler operated University Pain Specialists, a clinic where prosecutors said he participated in a $12 million Medicare scam in which mentally ill and elderly adults received unnecessary respiratory treatments. In May 2007, he pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy and health care fraud charges.

According to medical board documents made public today, Lessler hired recruiters who found patients at board and care facilities in Orange County from 2000 to 2006. Recruiters lured them with soda, candy and doughnuts. The lung treatments were provided without supervision at the boarding facilities. Documents say the medical office billed Medicare for the services, even though those services were not provided in the doctor's office, as required by Medicare.

Lessler, 70, agreed to give up his license and signed an agreement with the medical board to do so in July. Santa Ana attorney Raymond McMahon, who represented him in the proceeding, is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

Federal records indicate Lessler was to be sentenced last month, but the computer system does not indicate the disposition. Neither his defense attorney nor prosecutors could be reached late today.

According to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office

Cardiologist charged with health care fraud

Sheth received $13.4 million between January 2002 and July 2007 in fraudulent reimbursement ...
49-year-old Dr. Sushil Sheth faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for one count of health care fraud.

CHICAGO -- Federal authorities have charged a cardiologist from the southern Chicago suburbs with bilking Medicare and insurance companies out of more than $13 million for care they say he never provided.

According to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office, 49-year-old Dr. Sushil Sheth faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for one count of health care fraud.
Fitzgerald's office alleged Friday that Sheth received $13.4 million between January 2002 and July 2007 in fraudulent reimbursement for high levels of cardiac care that the office says the doctor never performed.

Sheth allegedly used his hospital access to obtain patient information.