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U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation
Gerard M. Karam, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, has announced his resignation, effective January 10, 2025. Appointed by President Biden in 2022, Karam described the role as "an honor of a lifetime" and expressed gratitude to federal and local law enforcement partners for their dedication to public safety and justice.
During his tenure, Karam prioritized public safety, healthcare fraud, civil rights enforcement, and tackling fraud and theft. His office prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including:
A life sentence for a man convicted in the murder …
Manville Man Sentenced After Defrauding $4 Mil From Brain Injury Fund: Feds
A 58-year-old Somerset County man was sentenced on Thursday, Nov. 14, to 7.5 years in prison after he was convicted of defrauding millions from the New Jersey Brain Injury Fund, authorities said.
C.R. Kraus, a Manville resident, was convicted in April of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, five acts of healthcare fraud, and four counts of tax evasion, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Two of Kraus' co-conspirators pled guilty for their role in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing, Sellinger said.
From 2009 to 2019, Kraus and his co-conspirators conspired to defraud the brai…
Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says
A former mayor of Wildwood admitted to his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that stole more than $600,000 in government funds, authorities said.
Peter Byron, 68, pleaded guilty to three charges on Friday, Sept. 27, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Monday, Sept. 30. Byron resigned as mayor in September 2023 after he was indicted in the case.
According to court documents and statements, Byron, current Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., and Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) despite being ineligible. The SHBP is only open…
Fake Urine Tests By Married PA Doctors Lead To Millions In Restitution: Usdoj
A husband and wife team of Pennsylvania doctors have been sentenced for a urine drug test fraud, the US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Physician with specialized training in anesthesiology, John H. Johnson and his physician wife, Paula Z. Johnson, both age 62, of Hollidaysburg, were sentenced for committing fraud by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner on Tuesday, Sept. 17, as detailed in the USDOJ release.
Dr. John Johnson received a sentence of 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. D…
Multi-Million Dollar Scheme: 8 NYers Accused Of Scamming Government For Services Never Provided
Eight New Yorkers who owned, operated, or were employees of several transportation companies have been accused of scamming the government out of millions of dollars for services never provided.
The indictments were unsealed on Long Island at federal court in Central Islip on Tuesday, June 11.
Seven of the eight are from Long Island and the other from New York City:
Noman Ahmed, age 37, Port Jefferson Station;
Adnan Arshad, also known as “Eddie,” age 45, Mount Sinai;
Rehman Diwan, age 24, Hicksville;
Jessica Hendrickson, age 36, Patchogue;
Jose Marte, age 33, …
$1.6M Scheme: CT Psychologist Admits Submitting Fraudulent Medicaid Claims
A 75-year-old psychologist from Connecticut has admitted to submitting false Medicaid claims as part of a more than $1.6 million scheme, federal officials announced.
Hartford County resident Michael Pines of Avon, a Glastonbury-based psychologist, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges on Wednesday, Jan. 31, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, Pines, who owned and operated Michael B. Pines, Ph.D., P.C., provided psychotherapy to young children, adolescents, and adults and had been individually enrolled…
NY Doctor Forced Invasive, Unnecessary Tests On Patients, Attorney General Claims
A New York doctor has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a kickback scheme that involved him defrauding Medicaid and giving patients unnecessary tests, officials announced.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Nov. 22 the indictment of Long Island resident Payam Toobian, M.D., alongside his company, America’s Imaging Center, Inc., for over 10 years of alleged Medicaid fraud.
Through his corporation, Toobian, age 51, of King's Point, ran Empire’s Imaging, a diagnostic radiology center based in Queens.
From January 2006 to August 2017, the AG’s Office …
$695K Scheme: Former CT Counselor Convicted Of Submitting False Medicaid Claims
A former New London County counselor has admitted to submitting thousands of dollars of fraudulent claims to Medicaid for therapy services he never provided, officials said.
Former East Lyme resident Jeffrey Slocum, age 55, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud and kickback charges on Wednesday, Aug. 16, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, between 2017 and 2022, Slocum, who now lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a licensed professional counselor with a New London office located at 300 State St. …
Ex-Nurse Avoids Jailtime For Stealing Boston Patients' Opioids: Feds
A former nurse who admitted to stealing opioids from her patients and a locked medicine cabinet at two Boston-area hospitals will not serve any jail time, federal authorities announced.
Lisa Tarr, 33, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first year being spent in home detention, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Tarr pleaded guilty last year to four counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
Tarr was a student nurse at a Boston-area hospital in August 2018, where she told investigators she…
'Cheated': Recovery Centers Across Mass Close, Operators Charged With Millions In Fraud: Feds
Instead of fostering recovery, the operator of a chain of addiction treatment centers used his position to launder money, steal millions of dollars, and write prescriptions under doctors' names without permission, said the US attorney's office.
Michael Brier, of Newton, used his position as operator of Recovery Connections Centers of America to rake in millions of dollars from Medicare, Medicaid, and other such organizations by falsifying healthcare claims, back-dating documents, and writing prescriptions using the names of doctors without their permission, according to Unite…
Former MassHealth Employee Sentenced For Racking Up $112K In Fake Services: AG
A 28-year-old man from Lowell was sentenced to two years in jail for cheating MassHealth out of more than $100,000 as an employee, Attorney General Maura Healy announced on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Investigators determined that Abdinafa Maow, who worked as a Personal Care Attendant for MassHealth, got paid for services that he never performed between 2015 and 2020, Healy said.
He along with his relative, Abdikadir Maow, were previously indicted on one count of false Medicaid claims and larceny over $1,200.
Overall, the duo received more than $112,000 for these fa…
Lowell Nurse Pleads Guilty To $100M Medicare, MassHealth Fraud, Kickback Scheme: Feds
A 42-year-old Lowell nurse pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this month to a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded at least $100 million from Medicare and MassHealth.
Winnie Waruru admitted in court on Sept. 8 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, aiding and abetting healthcare fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, and multiple counts of lying to federal investigators, the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Waruru worked as a licensed practical nurse for Arbor Homecare Services LLC, where investigators said she and a co-owner of the business, Faith Newton, failed to train staff,…
