An Illinois couple has been arrested and charged with several counts of health care fraud after allegedly bilking Medicare for more than $800,000 and paying kickbacks for referrals of Medicare patients.
John Yousefzai and Armanouhi Arzomanian owned and operated Medicose Home Health Care Service, Inc., which employed physicians and provided in-home medical services to patients.
The couple allegedly bilked Medicare for $800,000 for physician services that were never provided to residents, and was charged with conspiring to pay another defendant $11,000 in illegal kickbacks.
The two were each charged with five counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy and two counts of paying kickbacks for referrals of Meidcare patients to Medicose, which was charged with five counts of health care fraud.
Wilson Narsa, who worked for a nonprofit organization that provided services to the elderly and disabled, was also arrested and charged with conspiracy and two counts of receiving kickbacks for referring patients to Medicose.
Each count of health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or a fine totaling twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater, while conspiracy and each count of violating the anti-kickback statute carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and restitution is mandatory.
Medicose faces a maximum corporate penalty of each count of five years’ probation and a $500,000 fine.
The three individual defendants and Medicose pleaded not guilty at their arrangement last week in U.S. District Court. Yousefzai and Arzomanian were each released on a $50,000 secure bond, and Narsa was released on his own recognizance.
A status hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12 before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber.
Written by Emily Study
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