Punishment

Published on: July 31, 2013

Los Angeles Healthcare Fraud Scheme Was Big, But Strike Force Took Him Down

The annals of Los Angeles healthcare fraud are filled with astonishing tales. As an expose in Los Angeles Weekly recently described in vivid detail, con artists, tricksters and “good doctors turned to bad” have engaged in diverse shenanigans to pilfer funds from the federal government’s coffers.

But few schemes hold a candle to an operation developed by Dr. Jacques Roy, a physician who operated a “boiler room” in Dallas, Texas that prosecutors say amounted to a $375 million scam.

According to Assistant Attorney General, Lanny Breuer, the 54-year-old Dr. Roy and his coconspirators, for years, ran a well oiled fraudulent enterprise in the Dallas area. They made their millions by recruiting thousands of patients for unnecessary services and then billing Medicare for those services.

Published on: July 29, 2013

Yet Another Guilty Verdict in a Major Los Angeles Medicare Fraud Case (This Time, for $1.5 Million)

by Michael Kraut

A federal jury just convicted 49-year-old Godwin Onyeabor and two confederates of scheming to defraud Medicare in Los Angeles to the tune of $1.5 million.

Onyeabor, who had been working for a San Bernardino company, Fendih Medical Supply Inc., paid kickbacks to another doctor and healthcare professional to write fake prescriptions for power wheelchairs and other medical equipment.

Onyeabor’s scheme lasted from 2007 to 2012; he billed Medicare for fraudulent claims totaling $1.5 million. Medicare paid out almost $1 million of that money.

Published on: July 17, 2013

Chop Shop on Hunt for More Los Angeles Theft Suspects

by Michael Kraut

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives are looking for additional suspects in a chop shop bust that’s already netted two individuals accused of auto theft in Los Angeles.

According to a CBS LA report, the Sheriff’s Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) located a stolen car at Miramonte Boulevard’s 6700 Block in South L.A., which led them to eight different stolen vehicles.

Police nabbed two brothers, 20-year-old Danny Garcia and 19-year-old Juan Mercado, on an array of charges, including operating a chop shop, buying a vehicle to resell, and using fraudulent identification. Both young men are being held in jail on $50,000 bonds.

Published on: July 8, 2013

Your Trajectory After Your Los Angeles Petty Theft Charge: Up Or Down?

by Michael Kraut

Maybe you stole some costume jewelry and brooches from a Venice Beach bodega. Or perhaps your Los Angeles petty theft charge came packaged with additional charges, like grand theft, robbery, assault, etc.

In any case, you want to avoid serious punishment and “put the crime behind you.” But you’re also “not that concerned,” on some level, since your crime is relatively minor.

But you should be concerned!

Published on: July 5, 2013

Los Angeles Lewd Conduct Irony Alert! Sex Assault Chief for Air Force Busted on Charges of Sexual Battery

by Michael Kraut

After being arrested on sex crime charges in Southern California, you’re probably not that interested in ironic new stories.

But one whopper in the news — that just went viral — should get your attention. It concerns 41-year-old Lieutenant Colonel, Jeffrey Krusinski, the head of the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response Program. Authorities just arrested him on… wait for it… charges of sexual battery!

Krusinski’s (now famous) mug shot — picturing him with cuts on his face — almost instantly circulated around the internet. Officials say that Krusinski allegedly drunkenly groped a woman in a parking lot in Arlington, Virginia. Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the Air Force, detailed the events to the Los Angeles Times:

Published on: July 3, 2013

Healthcare Fraud in Los Angeles: Why Did You Do It? (No, Really, Why Did You Do It?)

by Michael Kraut

Why did you commit healthcare fraud in Southern California?

Now that you’ve been investigated (or, perhaps, arrested), your life path certainly doesn’t seem fully rational. After all, you now face massive jail time, thousands (or millions) of dollars in forced restitution, public humiliation, the loss of your medical, dental, or chiropractic license (or other professional credentials), and problems with your relationships and self-esteem.

So… why did you do it?

Published on: July 1, 2013

Los Angeles Petty Theft? 18-year-old Who Pilfered Mango Could Be Hit with a Felony!

by Michael Kraut

If you stole a mango, Lipton Ice Tea drink, and a pack of candy — a total of $3.67 worth of goods — do you think prosecutors would hit you with a misdemeanor Los Angeles petty theft charge … or a felony?

The answer is not so obvious!

If walked out of the grocery store or convenience store with your “five finger discount,” then got caught, and then calmly admitted what you did — you’d probably get tagged with just a misdemeanor. That’s still a big charge. But you won’t wind up behind bars for over a year for it.

Published on: June 26, 2013

Chris Parker’s Blockbuster LA Weekly Story on Los Angeles Medicare Fraud (Part 1 of 2)

by Michael Kraut

The Los Angeles Weekly recently ran a fantastic, compelling, and extremely disturbing story on Medicare fraud in Los Angeles and beyond. Entitled: “How Medicare fraud became the nation’s most lucrative crime,” the story blisteringly attacks a system of corruption that’s so deep and so diverse, it’s almost unbelievable.

It’s no secret that healthcare fraud in Southern California and beyond costs taxpayers $100 billion a year (some say that figure is as high as $300 billion). The Obama administration has clearly made it a priority to crack down on fraud, and the new awareness of the problem has undoubtedly led to improved policing.

Right?

Published on: June 24, 2013

Busted for Healthcare Fraud in Los Angeles? How Does Your Case Compare to That of These Two Las Vegas Women?

by Michael Kraut

Your Los Angeles healthcare fraud charges are pretty severe. You could wind up paying massive fines and restitution as well as serving a big stint behind bars.

But how does your case stack up against this one?

48-year-old Sandra Little (of Reno) and 65-year-old Susan Hill (of Las Vegas) recently pled guilty to defrauding Nevada’s Medicaid program out of about $1 million. Hill pled guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of healthcare fraud. Little pled guilty to 10 money laundering counts and 28 healthcare fraud counts. The U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Daniel Bogden, emphasized that the federal government “will vigorously prosecute persons who cheat and steal from federally funded programs … everyone suffers when programs designed to help persons in need are defrauded.”

Published on: June 12, 2013

Los Angeles Petty Theft Quiz Part 2: Which of These 6 “Weird Theft” Cases Are True and Which Are False?

by Michael Kraut

Often, Los Angeles petty theft cases take a turn for the bizarre. Separating truth from fiction can be a lot more challenging than people realize. How are your instincts? Take this quiz to find out.

Three of stories actually happened, and three are totally made up.

1. Shoe fetishist steals 40 pairs of Marla Maples’ shoes