‘This case represents one of the most brazen and egregious cases of home health Medicaid fraud ever seen in this district [N Carolina].’
(US Attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr)
The UK Daily Mail, masters of such news, has the disgusting story replete with photos to make your head explode and a juicy title published hereon Wednesday.
Thanks to Judy for spotting it as I am just home from a happy family duty and am farther behind than usual with reading and writing.
‘Gluttonous’ Vegas couple ‘stole identities of dead people to defraud Medicaid of $13m’ which they blew on a private jet, luxury cars, designer clothes and vacations which they bragged about in tacky online videos
A Las Vegas couple have been accused of stealing $13million from Medicaid to fund a lavish lifestyle that included a private jet, luxury cars, jewelry and clothes.
Latisha and Timothy Harron bought expensive cars, real estate, a private jet and pricey vacations. They also bought gym equipment which clearly did not benefit Latisha, by ripping off US taxpayers!
Latisha and Timothy Mark Harron worked together to carry out a ‘massive fraud’ on the North Carolina Medicaid program, according to a press release from the Department of Justice issued on Wednesday.
The couple, who were arrested on Wednesday, allegedly did this by billing the government for what the Department described as ‘fictitious home services’.
They are accused of spending Medicaid money on a British Aerospace Bae 125-800Acosting private jet that cost $900,000, ‘thousands of dollars of gym equipment’ and properties in North Carolina.
‘Stealing taxpayer money from a health care program designed to care for the poor and disabled just to bankroll a private jet and other luxury products – as alleged in this case – is reprehensible,’ said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the HHS Office of Inspector General.
Here is how they did it!
In 2012, Harron – who also goes by Latisha Reese Holt – moved to Maryland from North Carolina. There, she is said to have continued to bill NC Medicaid as though she was providing services to real North Carolina recipients.
The indictment then alleges that Latisha moved to Las Vegas in May 2017 to live with Timothy Harron. The two got married in 2018.
Timothy had a prior conviction which he concealed on NC Medicaid enrollment documents.
The couple then worked together to fraudulently bill the Medicaid program for more than $10 million between 2017 and 2019, according to the press release.
The DOJ said the couple searched through obituaries to find people in North Carolina who had recently died.
They then allegedly found out whether those people had a Medicaid ID number using an eligibility tool accessible only to Medicaid providers.
They then used it to bill Medicaid for ‘fictitious services’ it claimed to have provided before their deaths, the DOJ said.
Go hereto see the many photos and sickening details of their alleged theft.
It’s a good thing that the couple was so dumb to post photos of their largesse on line giving the Daily Mail such a titillating story.
If found guilty they could spend decades behind bars with surely lots and lots of gym time provided!
As I have said before, the Trump team should be broadcasting these successful busts far and wide as the 2020 election approaches.
I saw the story first a few days ago at the UK Daily Mailwhich as usual was ahead of most of the local Boston news stories.
Surgeon arrested for murdering his missing wife in Massachusetts whose remains are found near their home two days after she went missing
A surgeon was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife whose remains were found in an outdoor area near the home they shared in Massachusetts after she went missing earlier this week, authorities said.
Tuerk and McLean appear to be enjoying an Oktoberfest gathering in a photo obtained by the Daily Mail.
Ingolf Tuerk, 58, was accused of killing his wife Kathleen McLean, 45, whose remains were found in an outdoor area near their Valley Road home in Dover late Saturday. How she died was not disclosed.
McLean, who was last seen in her home, had been missing since Thursday. By Saturday, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s office issued a statement calling McLean’s disappearance ‘suspicious’ and said an investigation was underway.
The surgeon, born in Germany, had earlier this year been dismissed from St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center over allegations of falsely billing Medicaid, says the Daily Mail.
I’ve now spent way too much time reading subsequent news accounts of how the controlling Tuerk behaved in the months leading up to the strangulation death of his new wife.
By the way, he has two teenage children and she has three according to some reports.
Here is a column from the Boston Globethat gives us some additional insight into the truly disgusting story that hopefully serves as a warning to women whether they are 45 years old like Katie McLean or 17 like that poor girl decapitatedby a sicko in Sweden.
They were a couple of healers. Now one is charged with murdering the other
They got married in Las Vegas 11 days before Christmas.
Fifty-one days later, he was out of their house in Dover.
She filed for divorce two months after their wedding.
Three months after that, she was dead.
In five months, from the moment Kathleen “Katie” McLean said “I do,” to the moment State Police divers found her body Saturday in a pond near the home she shared with her husband Dr. Ingolf “Harry” Tuerk, her marriage and life dissolved into a disturbing text-book case of domestic violence.
Even after her husband choked her, even after filing charges against him, even after filing for divorce, Katie McLean took him back and tried to reconcile. Maybe because, as survivors of domestic violence in their desperation sometimes hope, she thought that might get him to stop hurting her.
She withdrew her divorce papers. She asked Norfolk County prosecutors to drop the conditions that kept her husband out of their home, but Assistant District Attorney Michael Pirrello refused and two judges agreed with him. But when she withdrew the restraining order, Tuerk was back in.
Now prosecutors, who carry the sobering knowledge that men who choke their wives in a fit of rage don’t change overnight, will try Harry Tuerk for the strangulation murder of his wife.
Despite their age difference, Tuerk, 58, and McLean, 45, had something in common. They were healers. He was a renowned urologist, an especially prolific surgeon. She was a practitioner of Reiki, a non-invasive alternative approach that stimulates the body’s natural healing process.
At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Tuerk was an Olympic athlete for his native East Germany and remained an imposing figure, towering over his colleagues during surgeries, which, according to a 2004 Globe profile, he performed in bare feet while blasting classic rock.
But, after Tuerk’s career ended abruptly, what might be seen as quirky behavior could also manifest itself as controlling, such as his refusal to tell his wife the code for their home’s thermostat. According to police, after McLean took out a restraining order, Tuerk remotely dropped the temperature in the house to 54 degrees.
More here. That last bit I highlighted speaks volumes.
What a coincidence! Two stories came my way yesterday, one from Tennessee and the other from Pennsylvania, where whistleblowers filed cases against large companies they said were scamming the US taxpayers and were handsomely rewarded for their good work on our behalf.
Tennessee-Based Health Services Company Settles FCA Case Alleging Medicaid Fraud For $9.5 Million
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced another False Claims Act (“FCA”) settlement centered around a health services company’s practice of providing unnecessary therapy services to patients in order to receive the maximum amount of reimbursement under Medicare. The $9.5 million settlement is with Diversicare Health Services Inc, a Tennessee-based company that provides nursing and rehabilitation services at 74 locations throughout the country. Diversicare’s alleged violations are similar to those in a medicaid fraud case settled by the DOJ for $15.4 million two weeks earlier concerning fraudulent Medicare reimbursements for unnecessary rehabilitation services.
The settlement resolves two separate qui tam FCA lawsuits filed by whistleblowers Mary Haggard and Bryant Fitzmorris, both former Diversicare employees. Ms. Haggard will receive a whistleblower award of roughly $1.4 million, and Mr. Fitzmorris will receive $145,350. The FCA allows private citizens who possess inside information of fraudulently billing against the United States Government to initiate a lawsuit on the Government’s behalf to recover those funds. The citizens, known as qui tam relators, are then entitled to receive a share of any damages that the Government ultimately recovers from the litigation.
Then from Whistleblower News Review (cool, a newsletter for whistleblowers) comes this story from Pennsylvania:
Guardian Elder Care Will Pay $15.4 Million to Resolve Allegations of Medicare Fraud – Whistleblowers Will Receive $2.8 Million
Guardian Elder Care Holdings Inc. and a list of related entities, including Guardian LTC Management and Guardian Rehabilitation Services (collectively, Guardian), have agreed to pay $15.4 million to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit. According to the complaint, Guardian billed government healthcare programs for medically unnecessary services. The company allegedly defrauded both Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Pennsylvania-headquartered Guardian operates over 50 nursing facilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to the whistleblower lawsuit filed by two rehab managers who worked at a Guardian facility in Carlisle, Guardian caused some of its facilities in all three states to bill the government for medically unnecessary services, at the highest level of Medicare reimbursement, solely to maximize profits.
The whistleblower complaint resolved by the $15.4 million settlement was filed under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Under the FCA, whistleblowers with original information about a fraud can come forward and become eligible for an award ranging between 10 and 30 percent of any resulting recovery. The two whistleblowers in this case, Philippa Krauss and Julie White, will share a $2.8 million award.
How many more companies are ripping off US taxpayers via Medicare and Medicaid fraud? I bet a lot. So if you work for one and suspect fraud, check into becoming a whistleblower—it is the patriotic thing to do!
I have a bunch of posts about other successful whistleblowers,see here.
Some of the headlines call Moses deGraft-Johnson a “Tallahassee doctor,” but African media doesn’t pull punches and refers to him as a “Ghanaian doctor.”
Tallahassee doctor indicted for more than $23M in healthcare fraud
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — A federal grand jury has indicted a Tallahassee doctor, accusing him of more than $23 million in healthcare fraud.
According to court documents, Moses deGraft-Johnson owned and operated the Heart and Vascular Institute of North Florida since September 2015. Kimberly Austin – his office manager – was also indicted.
Duel citizen Moses deGraft-Johnson benefited the US economy! NOT!
Federal prosecutors said in court Friday afternoon they believe there were more than 3,600 surgeries billed over the last five years, with 85 to 90% of them being fraudulent.
The 58 count indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, alleges deGraft-Johnson defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by billing them for dozens of procedures that he never performed.
A detailed list shows each of the claims was for more than $21,000. Federal prosecutors said in court that the amount of money that was improperly billed reached $23 million.
A later motion alleges deGraft-Johnson’s calendar showed he performed 14 surgeries in one day.
[….]
The indictment contends deGraft-Johnson wasn’t even in the United States on some of those days, but rather was traveling to Madrid, London and other cities in Ghana and China.
[….]
Culture of corruption? Since we have had so many fraud and crime stories perpetrated by Nigerians, I figured I would use this map to show you where both Ghana and Nigeria are located.
Federal prosecutors requested in court Friday that deGraft-Johnson be detained until his trial, saying the doctor poses a “serious risk of flight.”
Prosecutors contend deGraft-Johnson is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Ghana. They say he has “the motive, the means and the opportunity to flee from the United States to Ghana.”
According to prosecutors, he has two passports, both showing that he has dual citizenship for the United States and Ghana.
Unlimited hubris!
Prosecutors also contend that deGraft-Johnson has stated his ultimate long-term professional goal is “to be the President of Ghana.”
[….]
Court documents indicate deGraft-Johnson deposited more than $32 million in health care funds into his bank account between November 2015 and August 2019. Prosecutors say that the majority of funds were transferred to other accounts.
[….]
At one point, deGraft-Johnson told federal agents he had no cash that was not in a bank, but agents found $40,000 cash at one of his residences.
“This suggests that there may be other cash hoards in any of Defendant’s five other residences,” prosecutors wrote.
The doctor’s other residences are located in Miami, Manhattan, Hampton and Texas, prosecutors said in court.
Prosecutors also detailed lavish spending, including millions spent on Tiffany and Cartier jewelry, two Mercedes, and the recent leases of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.
Honestly, I think Trump is making a big mistake not highlighting some of the major Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecutions his administration is undertaking.
At every rally he should tell a story or two about how they caught some big crooks stealing from middle class Americans!
To be fair and balanced he could throw in a few American fraudsters along with the ‘new American’ ones!
Florida? Texas? Michigan? California? Which state has the most fraudulent medical practitioners?
Editor:As is so often the case, I’ve been busy at Refugee Resettlement Watch as Republican governors are caving to the Open Borders Left and asking the President for MORE refugees this year. See RRW from time to time if you aren’t already.
One of my favorite scams earlier at RRW,and now at ‘Frauds and Crooks,’is SNAP scam! That is when small stores and gas stations (most often owned by ‘new Americans’) traffic in food stamps. I’ve noticed fewer of them lately. I don’t know if that is because the most egregious cases have already been busted or whether the feds have slowed their investigations.
However, this isn’t about trafficking fraud, but about the couple collecting food stamp benefits while owning several gas stations. There may also be some Medicaid fraud mixed in, but that isn’t fully explained.
I hope the feds investigated their gas stations to ascertain if they also might be trafficking in food stamps!
BTW, I’ve traveled often through this part of South Jersey and I can say there are many, many foreign-owned and operated convenience stores and gas stations. Why is that?
Mustafa and Rahime Ozturk in court on Monday with their Turkish interpreter that you, the taxpayers, likely paid for as required by a Bill Clinton Executive Order that was never rescinded. I wish someone would do an analysis of what these interpreters are costing county and state taxpayers!
Vineland couple in food stamp case say they don’t have to pay back money
BRIDGETON – A Vineland couple charged with taking thousands of dollars in an alleged food stamp scam are rejecting a plea deal, claiming a recent bankruptcy means they don’t have to pay back the money.
The couple, Mustafa Ozturk, 35, and Rahime Ozturk, 38, fraudulently received $26,128 in food stamps over several years while concealing that they owned gas stations in two states from the Cumberland County Division of Social Services, court records show.
They both appeared in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday.
The couple, who have separate attorneys, were arraigned in November on a 16-count indictment alleging theft, conspiracy, and falsifying records.
At Monday’s hearing before Judge Robert Malestein, county Assistant Prosecutor Shari-Ann Sasu said the state has offered the couple plea deals that would recommend probation instead of prison.
However, she said, the defendants would be required to pay back the county and the Ozturks are refusing.
Send them to jail then!
The Ozturks filed in federal Bankruptcy Court in October 2018 for Chapter 13 protection. The Division of Social Services already had completed its investigation by that time.
The division contacted the Prosecutor’s Office in February 2018 to report suspected Medicaid fraud, according to court records.
[….]
“I believe Mr. Ozturk’s of the position that, if he’s in bankruptcy, he shouldn’t have to pay anything back,” Sasu said. “So, the sticking point really is the money and restitution. I’m thinking a restitution hearing is coming at some point.”
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced another False Claims Act (“FCA”) settlement centered around a health services company’s practice of providing unnecessary therapy services to patients in order to receive the maximum amount of reimbursement under Medicare. The $9.5 million settlement is with Diversicare Health Services Inc, a Tennessee-based company that provides nursing and rehabilitation services at 74 locations throughout the country. Diversicare’s alleged violations are similar to those in a medicaid fraud case settled by the DOJ for $15.4 million two weeks earlier concerning fraudulent Medicare reimbursements for unnecessary rehabilitation services.
Honestly, I think Trump is making a big mistake not highlighting some of the major Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecutions his administration is undertaking.