It’s Valentine’s Day today! As you know, the special annual occasion is all about celebrating love and the joy of beautiful relationships. On behalf of the entire Allegiant Expert team, we hope you’re feeling a lot of love today. The way we see it, it doesn’t just have to be about romantic love. The Allegiant Experts team loves its home state of Florida, for example, so we often communicate that.
However, our state is home to some people who don’t have a lot of love for the medical community or the law. This week, we take a look at a Floridian who has been abusing our health care system. Of course, like so many fraudsters before him, his actions will not be going unpunished.
Coral Springs man pleads guilty to DME kickback scheme.
As reported by the District of New Jersey branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office last week, 34 year-old Kareem Memon has admitted his role in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme. The Coral Springs resident pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickback scheme involved durable medical equipment (DME).
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Memon and his conspirators owned and operated marketing call centers and telemedicine companies. Together, the team of fraudsters obtained doctors’ orders for DME for Medicare beneficiaries without regard to medical necessity. “Memon and his conspirators provided doctors’ orders in exchange for bribes from DME companies that provided the braces to Medicare beneficiaries,” confirms the report.
Memon and his conspirators caused losses to Medicare in excess of $11 million.
Memon’s recent guilty plea was not his first. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that, back on September 21, 2023, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and felon in possession charges in a separate case. He admitted to submitting fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $451,000 in forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The loans were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Memon used those funds for personal gains. “At the time of Memon’s arrest he was a felon and found to be unlawfully in possession of an arsenal of 12 firearms and ammunition,” the report reveals.
Memon faces steep sentencing.
He could receive up to ten years in prison for the health care fraud conspiracy charge. The kickback conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. In addition, both of the charges are punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Memon’s sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2024.
Are you an attorney who is currently working a healthcare fraud case? The clinical experts at Allegiant Experts can help you! We coordinate and support courageous whistleblowers that shine lights on fraud, waste and abuse. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 407-217-5831. You may also email us at info@allegiantexperts.com.
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