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March 21, 2013

Jury Convicts Houston Ambulance Service Operator of Medicare Fraud

March 21, 2013 — In the last four years, the U.S. Department of Justice has used the False Claims Act to recover more than $10.2 billion in fraudulent health care cases. The federal anti-fraud statute offers the government an effective tool for fighting fraud against the American taxpayers. The False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions enable a whistleblower to file suit on the American government’s behalf and to take part in any recovery. If the United States elects to intervene in the lawsuit, the government collaborator receives a smaller share of the recovery. If the government decides not to participate in the case, the whistleblower is entitled to a greater portion of any proceeds.

Ambulance Operator’s False Claims to Medicare Top $1.7 Million

Olusola Elliott, of Fort Bend County, Texas, has been convicted of health care fraud by a federal jury in Texas, the Justice Department has announced. Elliott owned and operated Double Daniels LLC, a company that ostensibly offered non-emergency ambulance services to Medicare patients living in and around Houston. At trial, evidence was presented that from 2010 to 2011, Elliott conspired with others to submit false claims for reimbursement to Medicare for ambulance services that were not needed and did not happen.

Elliott falsified patient records, the evidence showed, to support over $1.7 million in phony claims to Medicare for transporting Medicare beneficiaries who did not need ambulance transport. Elliot split the proceeds of the scam between himself and other co-conspirators. At sentencing in May, Elliot could receive a ten year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

False Claims Act Violations Uncovered by Insider Employees

Medicare fraud schemes are frequently discovered by insiders working for the unscrupulous health care provider. Before stepping forward, whistleblowers should become familiar with their rights under the False Claims Act. The experienced lawyers at Waters & Kraus provide informants with the legal representation they need. Contact us or call our Medicare fraud attorneys at 800.226.9880 to learn how we can protect and advance the rights of government collaborators.

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