"A New York doctor was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury for causing the submission of over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces." Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for...
Criminal Defense
Another crazy fraud scheme and kick back statute violations
Alexandra Gehrke, 39, and her husband Jeffrey King, 46, both of Phoenix, agreed to pay $615 million and $605.7 million, respectively, in restitution, according to a Jan. 31 Justice Department news release. She instructed and financially incentivized these...
Nurses engaging in identity theft and fraud
An Iowa hospital administrator who lived under a false identity for more than 30 years and caused the false imprisonment, involuntary hospitalization, and forced medication of his victim was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison. This case exemplifies the...
Healthcare fraud by a home health agency owners and operators warrants jail
Faith Newton, 56, owner of a home health care agency she operated, perpetrated a massive, years-long fraud scheme that siphoned over $100 million from a program designed to support vulnerable US residents. She used the stolen money to fund her lavish lifestyle,...
Can a plea deal impact a professional license?
Some people who are facing criminal charges want the case to be over with as soon as possible. They may be interested in finding out if they can work out a plea deal with the prosecution. While that might seem like a good idea, it’s one that must be carefully...
How you could risk losing your professional license
Medical professionals depend on their professional licenses to make a living. Acquiring a professional license takes years of education, training and preparation. In Pennsylvania, nurses must even pass a state-administered test before they can legally practice. It...
Safeguarding against allegations of sexual assault
There is no question that the mere act of being accused of sexual assault could affect your career, your reputation, your personal life and even your freedom. As a result, you need to take steps to safeguard your medical or nursing license from accusations while...
A juvenile record and your medical license: What you should know
A lot of people get into trouble with the law when they’re teens or even pre-teens. Fortunately, as long as the offense isn’t so serious that you’re tried as an adult, you typically don’t have to worry about a juvenile offense for which you were found to be guilty...
A plea deal can affect your professional license
If you are a licensed professional, such as a doctor or nurse, there is a lot more at stake than your freedom if you are charged with a criminal offense. Your career, reputation and livelihood may also be on the line. Depending on the nature of your offenses, a...
What is actual loss pursuant to USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(G)
In every federal criminal indictment, trial, and sentencing after a plea or conviction, a defendant’s fate is guided by the actual financial loss the criminal acts caused. In United States v. Banks, — F.4th —- (Nov. 30, 2022), Frederick Banks was convicted of fraud. At sentencing, the federal judge applied the USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(G)’s enhancement for the intended fraud loss, not actual loss, because there was no actual monetary loss. Banks appealed and on November 30, 2022, the 3d Circuit court of appeal reversed his sentence.