By Dustin Walsh
Thirteen metro Detroit residents were arrested today by federal agents in connection with an alleged home health care plot to defraud Medicare of more than $14.5 million between August 2007 and September 2009, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The six-count indictment alleges the 13 individuals operated a billing scheme out of Patient Choice Home Healthcare Inc. and All American Home Care, both of Oak Park.
The indictment alleges that Patient Choice and All American billed Medicare for services that were unnecessary or never performed.
Muhammad Shahab, 50, Christopher Collins, 38, and Hassan Akhtar, 26, reportedly own the two home care companies.
All three men were indicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud — which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
Shahab and Akhtar also were charged with two counts of money laundering — which each violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000.
Curtis Mallory, 35, Mohammed El-Fallal, 55, Jessica Vigil, 34, Tariq Chaudhary, 36, Faisal Chaudry, 31, and Visnhu Meda, 29, were also charged for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
In addition, Shahab, Pramod Raval, 56, Guy Ross, 48, Lura Barrett, 61, and Stephen Cartier, 50 were charged with conspiracy to violate the Medicare Anti-kickback Statute — which prohibits kickbacks for referrals, signatures or recommendations and carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to $25,000.
Collins and Mallory allegedly recruited patients and paid them for their Medicare information and signatures.
El-Fallal allegedly used the identity of a licensed doctor to sign referrals for unnecessary home therapy services or for unperformed services.
Vigil, Chaudhary, Chaudry and Meda also allegedly falsified medical records.
This marks the second prosecution by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in metro Detroit in as many months.
In December, nine medical workers were indicted on claims of a $14 million billing scheme in Livonia and Dearborn Heights.
