Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case Sentenced

[Guest guest]

http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/ho051309.htm

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2009

United States Attorney's Office

Southern District of Texas

Contact:

Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case Sentenced

HOUSTON-Mazen Abdallah and Wesam Abdallah, of Houston, have each been

sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for their roles in a

multi-million dollar ambulance fraud case, acting U.S. Attorney Tim

announced today.

The prison terms were handed down on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, by United

States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. In addition to the prison terms,

the court ordered Mazen, 28, and Wesam, 33, to pay restitution of

$637,425 to Medicare and Medicaid and to forfeit a similar amount to the

United States. The brothers were ordered into federal custody

immediately after yesterday's hearing to begin serving their sentences.

The two brothers were indicted in June 2007 along with three other

defendants and convicted by a jury's verdict in May 2008 after a

five-week trial where more than 50 witnesses testified. Mazen and Wesam

Abdallah were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Wesam Abdallah was also convicted of health care fraud and an

anti-kickback violation.

Americare Ambulance Service, a Medicare and Medicaid provider, primarily

engaged in transporting non-emergency dialysis patients to dialysis

treatment. Dialysis patients typically need dialysis three times a week

and the average reimbursement rate for each roundtrip to/from treatment

with mileage is approximately $400-$500.

Americare, owned and operated by the Abdallahs, filed false and

fraudulent reimbursement claims for transporting dialysis patients to

and from their homes for dialysis treatments. A prescription is required

for transport, but many of Americare patients did not qualify for

transport and either had no prescription, used a prescription where the

doctor's signature was photocopied or procured by trick from two nursing

home doctors. In addition, the defendants paid many patients kickbacks

to ride with their ambulance service, instead of another, in violation

of the law. Some patients were transported by cars, but the service was

billed as if by ambulance.

Two other defendants who owned and operated Americare before selling it

to Mazen Abdallah - Ayad Fallah and Murad Almasri, a cousin to the

Abdallahs - have each already been sentenced to 20 months in federal

prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution. These two

defendants pleaded guilty and testified at trial against the Abdallah

brothers. The remaining defendant, Raed Elmasri, is a fugitive.

This case was the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI, the

Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit in Houston, the Department

of Health & Human Services - Office of the Inspector General Office of

Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Special Assistant United

States Attorney Suzanne Bradley and Assistant United States Attorney

Albert A. Balboni prosecuted the case.

Press Releases http://houston.fbi.gov/press.htm> | Houston Home

http://houston.fbi.gov/index.html>

Les

NREMT-Paramedic, HM-M, CSST, SAPA, RSO, AHA-TCF

Senior Safety Coordinator

Westlake Chemical

P.O. Box 228

36045 Highway 30

Geismar, LA 70734-0228

e-mail: lpowell@...

Telephone:

Fax:

Cell: 225.439-6552

Industrial Fire World Advisory Board - Industrial Fire World

http://www.fireworld.com/>

Immediate Past President: American Society of Safety Engineers -

Sabine-Neches Chapter http://www.snc.asse.org/>

Affiliate Advisory Council - Texas: National Association of Emergency

Medical Technicians http://www.naemt.org/>

Board of Directors - Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas

(EMSAT) http://www.texasemsat.org/>

The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the

Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended

only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and

may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review,

retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action

in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the

intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error,

please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer,

disk drive, diskette, or other storage device or media.

" Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one. " -

Abraham Lincoln

SAVE THE DATE!

Industrial Fire World Emergency Responder Conference & Expo

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Baton Rouge, LA

22-26 February 2010

A Proud Partner in Your Community

EMS Week 2009 - May 17-23

***** Named to Fortune’s 1000 list for 2009****

***** Ranked in Industry Week’s “1000 Largest Manufacturing Companies in the

US†2009 list. *****

*Confidentiality Statement: The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are*

*solely for the addressee(s). Delivery of this message to any person other than*

*the intended recipient is not intended to effect a waiver of any privilege of *

*confidentiality. If you have received this message in error, you are requested*

*to inform the sender by reply e-mail and immediately delete the message.*

[Guest guest]

OUCH !----------------and----------------------OUCH AGAIN !

 

But, I'm sure they deserved it!

 

 

Subject: Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case

Sentenced

To: texasems-l , Paramedicine

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:03 AM

http://houston. fbi.gov/dojpress rel/pressrel09/ ho051309. htm

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2009

United States Attorney's Office

Southern District of Texas

Contact:

Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case Sentenced

HOUSTON-Mazen Abdallah and Wesam Abdallah, of Houston, have each been

sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for their roles in a

multi-million dollar ambulance fraud case, acting U.S. Attorney Tim

announced today.

The prison terms were handed down on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, by United

States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. In addition to the prison terms,

the court ordered Mazen, 28, and Wesam, 33, to pay restitution of

$637,425 to Medicare and Medicaid and to forfeit a similar amount to the

United States. The brothers were ordered into federal custody

immediately after yesterday's hearing to begin serving their sentences.

The two brothers were indicted in June 2007 along with three other

defendants and convicted by a jury's verdict in May 2008 after a

five-week trial where more than 50 witnesses testified. Mazen and Wesam

Abdallah were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Wesam Abdallah was also convicted of health care fraud and an

anti-kickback violation.

Americare Ambulance Service, a Medicare and Medicaid provider, primarily

engaged in transporting non-emergency dialysis patients to dialysis

treatment. Dialysis patients typically need dialysis three times a week

and the average reimbursement rate for each roundtrip to/from treatment

with mileage is approximately $400-$500.

Americare, owned and operated by the Abdallahs, filed false and

fraudulent reimbursement claims for transporting dialysis patients to

and from their homes for dialysis treatments. A prescription is required

for transport, but many of Americare patients did not qualify for

transport and either had no prescription, used a prescription where the

doctor's signature was photocopied or procured by trick from two nursing

home doctors. In addition, the defendants paid many patients kickbacks

to ride with their ambulance service, instead of another, in violation

of the law. Some patients were transported by cars, but the service was

billed as if by ambulance.

Two other defendants who owned and operated Americare before selling it

to Mazen Abdallah - Ayad Fallah and Murad Almasri, a cousin to the

Abdallahs - have each already been sentenced to 20 months in federal

prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution. These two

defendants pleaded guilty and testified at trial against the Abdallah

brothers. The remaining defendant, Raed Elmasri, is a fugitive.

This case was the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI, the

Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit in Houston, the Department

of Health & Human Services - Office of the Inspector General Office of

Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Special Assistant United

States Attorney Suzanne Bradley and Assistant United States Attorney

Albert A. Balboni prosecuted the case.

Press Releases http://houston. fbi.gov/press. htm> | Houston Home

http://houston. fbi.gov/index. html>

Les

NREMT-Paramedic, HM-M, CSST, SAPA, RSO, AHA-TCF

Senior Safety Coordinator

Westlake Chemical

P.O. Box 228

36045 Highway 30

Geismar, LA 70734-0228

e-mail: lpowell (AT) westlake (DOT) com

Telephone:

Fax:

Cell: 225.439-6552

Industrial Fire World Advisory Board - Industrial Fire World

http://www.fireworl d.com/>

Immediate Past President: American Society of Safety Engineers -

Sabine-Neches Chapter http://www.snc. asse.org/>

Affiliate Advisory Council - Texas: National Association of Emergency

Medical Technicians http://www.naemt. org/>

Board of Directors - Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas

(EMSAT) http://www.texasems at.org/>

The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the

Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended

only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and

may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review,

retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action

in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the

intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error,

please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer,

disk drive, diskette, or other storage device or media.

" Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one. " -

Abraham Lincoln

SAVE THE DATE!

Industrial Fire World Emergency Responder Conference & Expo

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Baton Rouge, LA

22-26 February 2010

A Proud Partner in Your Community

EMS Week 2009 - May 17-23

***** Named to Fortune’s 1000 list for 2009****

***** Ranked in Industry Week’s “1000 Largest Manufacturing Companies in the

US†2009 list. *****

*Confidentiality Statement: The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are*

*solely for the addressee(s) . Delivery of this message to any person other

than*

*the intended recipient is not intended to effect a waiver of any privilege of *

*confidentiality. If you have received this message in error, you are requested*

*to inform the sender by reply e-mail and immediately delete the message.*

[Guest guest]

OUCH !----------------and----------------------OUCH AGAIN !

 

But, I'm sure they deserved it!

 

 

Subject: Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case

Sentenced

To: texasems-l , Paramedicine

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:03 AM

http://houston. fbi.gov/dojpress rel/pressrel09/ ho051309. htm

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2009

United States Attorney's Office

Southern District of Texas

Contact:

Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case Sentenced

HOUSTON-Mazen Abdallah and Wesam Abdallah, of Houston, have each been

sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for their roles in a

multi-million dollar ambulance fraud case, acting U.S. Attorney Tim

announced today.

The prison terms were handed down on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, by United

States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. In addition to the prison terms,

the court ordered Mazen, 28, and Wesam, 33, to pay restitution of

$637,425 to Medicare and Medicaid and to forfeit a similar amount to the

United States. The brothers were ordered into federal custody

immediately after yesterday's hearing to begin serving their sentences.

The two brothers were indicted in June 2007 along with three other

defendants and convicted by a jury's verdict in May 2008 after a

five-week trial where more than 50 witnesses testified. Mazen and Wesam

Abdallah were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Wesam Abdallah was also convicted of health care fraud and an

anti-kickback violation.

Americare Ambulance Service, a Medicare and Medicaid provider, primarily

engaged in transporting non-emergency dialysis patients to dialysis

treatment. Dialysis patients typically need dialysis three times a week

and the average reimbursement rate for each roundtrip to/from treatment

with mileage is approximately $400-$500.

Americare, owned and operated by the Abdallahs, filed false and

fraudulent reimbursement claims for transporting dialysis patients to

and from their homes for dialysis treatments. A prescription is required

for transport, but many of Americare patients did not qualify for

transport and either had no prescription, used a prescription where the

doctor's signature was photocopied or procured by trick from two nursing

home doctors. In addition, the defendants paid many patients kickbacks

to ride with their ambulance service, instead of another, in violation

of the law. Some patients were transported by cars, but the service was

billed as if by ambulance.

Two other defendants who owned and operated Americare before selling it

to Mazen Abdallah - Ayad Fallah and Murad Almasri, a cousin to the

Abdallahs - have each already been sentenced to 20 months in federal

prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution. These two

defendants pleaded guilty and testified at trial against the Abdallah

brothers. The remaining defendant, Raed Elmasri, is a fugitive.

This case was the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI, the

Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit in Houston, the Department

of Health & Human Services - Office of the Inspector General Office of

Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Special Assistant United

States Attorney Suzanne Bradley and Assistant United States Attorney

Albert A. Balboni prosecuted the case.

Press Releases http://houston. fbi.gov/press. htm> | Houston Home

http://houston. fbi.gov/index. html>

Les

NREMT-Paramedic, HM-M, CSST, SAPA, RSO, AHA-TCF

Senior Safety Coordinator

Westlake Chemical

P.O. Box 228

36045 Highway 30

Geismar, LA 70734-0228

e-mail: lpowell (AT) westlake (DOT) com

Telephone:

Fax:

Cell: 225.439-6552

Industrial Fire World Advisory Board - Industrial Fire World

http://www.fireworl d.com/>

Immediate Past President: American Society of Safety Engineers -

Sabine-Neches Chapter http://www.snc. asse.org/>

Affiliate Advisory Council - Texas: National Association of Emergency

Medical Technicians http://www.naemt. org/>

Board of Directors - Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas

(EMSAT) http://www.texasems at.org/>

The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the

Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended

only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and

may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review,

retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action

in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the

intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error,

please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer,

disk drive, diskette, or other storage device or media.

" Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one. " -

Abraham Lincoln

SAVE THE DATE!

Industrial Fire World Emergency Responder Conference & Expo

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Baton Rouge, LA

22-26 February 2010

A Proud Partner in Your Community

EMS Week 2009 - May 17-23

***** Named to Fortune’s 1000 list for 2009****

***** Ranked in Industry Week’s “1000 Largest Manufacturing Companies in the

US†2009 list. *****

*Confidentiality Statement: The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are*

*solely for the addressee(s) . Delivery of this message to any person other

than*

*the intended recipient is not intended to effect a waiver of any privilege of *

*confidentiality. If you have received this message in error, you are requested*

*to inform the sender by reply e-mail and immediately delete the message.*

[Guest guest]

OUCH !----------------and----------------------OUCH AGAIN !

 

But, I'm sure they deserved it!

 

 

Subject: Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case

Sentenced

To: texasems-l , Paramedicine

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:03 AM

http://houston. fbi.gov/dojpress rel/pressrel09/ ho051309. htm

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 13, 2009

United States Attorney's Office

Southern District of Texas

Contact:

Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case Sentenced

HOUSTON-Mazen Abdallah and Wesam Abdallah, of Houston, have each been

sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for their roles in a

multi-million dollar ambulance fraud case, acting U.S. Attorney Tim

announced today.

The prison terms were handed down on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, by United

States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. In addition to the prison terms,

the court ordered Mazen, 28, and Wesam, 33, to pay restitution of

$637,425 to Medicare and Medicaid and to forfeit a similar amount to the

United States. The brothers were ordered into federal custody

immediately after yesterday's hearing to begin serving their sentences.

The two brothers were indicted in June 2007 along with three other

defendants and convicted by a jury's verdict in May 2008 after a

five-week trial where more than 50 witnesses testified. Mazen and Wesam

Abdallah were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Wesam Abdallah was also convicted of health care fraud and an

anti-kickback violation.

Americare Ambulance Service, a Medicare and Medicaid provider, primarily

engaged in transporting non-emergency dialysis patients to dialysis

treatment. Dialysis patients typically need dialysis three times a week

and the average reimbursement rate for each roundtrip to/from treatment

with mileage is approximately $400-$500.

Americare, owned and operated by the Abdallahs, filed false and

fraudulent reimbursement claims for transporting dialysis patients to

and from their homes for dialysis treatments. A prescription is required

for transport, but many of Americare patients did not qualify for

transport and either had no prescription, used a prescription where the

doctor's signature was photocopied or procured by trick from two nursing

home doctors. In addition, the defendants paid many patients kickbacks

to ride with their ambulance service, instead of another, in violation

of the law. Some patients were transported by cars, but the service was

billed as if by ambulance.

Two other defendants who owned and operated Americare before selling it

to Mazen Abdallah - Ayad Fallah and Murad Almasri, a cousin to the

Abdallahs - have each already been sentenced to 20 months in federal

prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution. These two

defendants pleaded guilty and testified at trial against the Abdallah

brothers. The remaining defendant, Raed Elmasri, is a fugitive.

This case was the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI, the

Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit in Houston, the Department

of Health & Human Services - Office of the Inspector General Office of

Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Special Assistant United

States Attorney Suzanne Bradley and Assistant United States Attorney

Albert A. Balboni prosecuted the case.

Press Releases http://houston. fbi.gov/press. htm> | Houston Home

http://houston. fbi.gov/index. html>

Les

NREMT-Paramedic, HM-M, CSST, SAPA, RSO, AHA-TCF

Senior Safety Coordinator

Westlake Chemical

P.O. Box 228

36045 Highway 30

Geismar, LA 70734-0228

e-mail: lpowell (AT) westlake (DOT) com

Telephone:

Fax:

Cell: 225.439-6552

Industrial Fire World Advisory Board - Industrial Fire World

http://www.fireworl d.com/>

Immediate Past President: American Society of Safety Engineers -

Sabine-Neches Chapter http://www.snc. asse.org/>

Affiliate Advisory Council - Texas: National Association of Emergency

Medical Technicians http://www.naemt. org/>

Board of Directors - Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas

(EMSAT) http://www.texasems at.org/>

The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the

Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended

only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and

may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review,

retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action

in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the

intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error,

please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer,

disk drive, diskette, or other storage device or media.

" Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one. " -

Abraham Lincoln

SAVE THE DATE!

Industrial Fire World Emergency Responder Conference & Expo

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Baton Rouge, LA

22-26 February 2010

A Proud Partner in Your Community

EMS Week 2009 - May 17-23

***** Named to Fortune’s 1000 list for 2009****

***** Ranked in Industry Week’s “1000 Largest Manufacturing Companies in the

US†2009 list. *****

*Confidentiality Statement: The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are*

*solely for the addressee(s) . Delivery of this message to any person other

than*

*the intended recipient is not intended to effect a waiver of any privilege of *

*confidentiality. If you have received this message in error, you are requested*

*to inform the sender by reply e-mail and immediately delete the message.*