FBI agents raided Detroit medical offices Wednesday in relation to a $132 million Medicare fraud case involving kickbacks and the prescription of medically unnecessary painkillers, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press.
Five physicians and two other metro-Detroit residents were indicted for the alleged conspiracy, which prosecutors believe dates back to 2008, according to the report.
The conspiracy ring was allegedly led by Mashiyat Rashid, who owns and operates the Tri-County Network, a portfolio of businesses including Tri-County Physicians, Tri-State Physicians, New Center Medical, National Laboratories, and Aqua Therapy and Pain Management. He was charged for healthcare fraud, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and defraud the government, and for paying and receiving kickbacks, among other charges, according to the report.
Mr. Rashid allegedly paid Yasser Mozeb to open bank accounts through a marketing business to receive payments from some of the Tri-County Network businesses, according to the report.
Five physicians were also charged as alleged co-conspirators: Spilios Pappas, MD, Abdul Haq, MD, Joseph Betro, DO, Tariq Omar, MD, and Mohammed Zahoor, MD. All of the physicians are listed as Medicare providers with one or several of the Tri-County Network businesses.
Read the full story here.
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