In February 2021, the DOJ Fraud Section issued its annual Year in Review 2020.
In 2020, the DOJ Fraud Section spearheaded one of the largest-ever National Health Care Fraud and Prescription Opioid Takedowns. The DOJ Fraud Section’s Year in Review 2020 set out notable case examples of its nationwide effort to combat health care fraud – four (4) of which occurred in Florida:
United States v. Jorge Perez, et al (M.D. Fla.)
This case fell under the National Rapid Response Strike Force’s (NRRSF) purview, involving a nationwide $1.4 billion hospital billing fraud scheme in connection with unnecessary laboratory testing. See Indictment ->
United States v. Steven Kahn (S.D. Fla.)
This case involved a telemedicine company owner, who pleaded guilty for his role in a durable medical equipment scheme used to generate and sell doctor’s orders to defraud Medicare of more than $21 million. See Indictment ->
United States v. Ashley Hoobler Parris (M.D. Fla.)
This case involved a conspiracy to commit health care fraud, among other offenses, for a scheme to defraud Medicare by causing the submission of false and fraudulent claims related to COVID-19 and other laboratory testing, including cancer genetic testing. See Criminal Complaint ->
United States v. Dr. Michael Ligotti (S.D. Fla.)
This case involved a $746 million scheme involving vulnerable substance abuse patients in which private insurers were billed for medically unnecessary urinalyses, blood tests, psychiatric treatment, prescription drugs, and other fraudulent addition treatment services.
This scheme is alleged to have lasted almost a decade and is the largest addiction treatment fraud case ever charged. See Criminal Complaint ->
In 2020, the DOJ Fraud Section through its Market Integrity and Major Fraud Unit (MIMF Unit), also spearheaded an effort to combat fraud in connection with the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) [created by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.] PPP fraud will no doubt be a significant focus of the DOJ in 2021.
Lastly, in 2020, the DOJ Fraud Section refined and reissued its Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (Second Addition), and the Criminal Division’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs.