A 54-year-old Nigerian man, Ifeanyi Ozoh, has been sentenced to six years in U.S. federal prison for his involvement in a healthcare kickback scheme. Ozoh was convicted of conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks and for bribing marketers to bring Medicaid-insured patients to a fraudulent dental clinic.
The sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane on Wednesday, November 13, also includes three years of supervised release and a restitution order of $4.9 million to Medicaid.
A federal jury reached a guilty verdict on February 14, 2024, after deliberating for just one hour following a three-day trial. The court heard compelling evidence showing that Ozoh played a central role in the fraudulent scheme while working at Floss Family Dentalcare Center from January 2020 to February 2021.
During the trial, witnesses testified that Ozoh paid marketers between $20 and $100 per child referred to the clinic. Payments were often made covertly in cash, with some placed on a vending machine to avoid detection. Despite warnings from a clinic manager about the illegality of his actions, Ozoh continued bribing marketers and parents, disbursing more than $163,000 in kickbacks.
Floss Family Dentalcare Center billed Medicaid over $6 million during Ozoh’s tenure, receiving more than $4 million in claims, many of which were tied to illegal referrals or dental services that were never rendered.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. Prosecutors Kathryn Olson and Lauren Valenti argued the case, highlighting the scheme’s extensive financial impact on Medicaid.
Judge Crane emphasized the substantial evidence of Ozoh’s guilt during sentencing, describing his actions as a clear violation of Medicaid regulations prohibiting kickbacks. Ozoh will remain on bond until he surrenders to a designated U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The case underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to combating healthcare fraud and protecting taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid.
No comments:
Post a Comment