|
Chiropractor Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Defrauding Insurance Companies of More Than $750,000
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR. the
Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RONALD J. VERROCHIO,
the Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the United
States Postal Inspection Service ("USPIS") announced today that
MICHAEL HOROWITZ, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty to a scheme to
defraud insurance companies of more than $750,000 by billing for
medical services that were not performed.
According to the Complaint, the Indictment to which
HOROWITZ pleaded guilty, and statements made in court:
HOROWITZ practiced chiropractics at "Horowitz Family
Chiropractic" in downtown Manhattan. In February 2002,
CHRISTOPHER GREEN, a co-defendant who previously pleaded guilty
in August 2007 to participating in the same health care fraud
conspiracy In August 2007, joined HOROWITZ and opened "Wall
Street Chiropractic" on Wall Street in New York City.
From at least 2003 to December 2006, HOROWITZ and GREEN
defrauded insurance companies including, Empire Blue Cross Blue
Shield, AETNA, and CIGNA. Specifically, HOROWITZ and GREEN
billed insurance companies for providing chiropractic treatments that were not in fact provided. HOROWITZ admitted to false
billings totaling $773,099.18.
HOROWITZ, 40, of Marlboro, New Jersey, pleaded guilty
today to one count of conspiracy to commit health care and mail
fraud (Count Three of the Indictment) before United States
Magistrate Judge JAMES C. FRANCIS IV. HOROWITZ faces a maximum
sentence of 20 years in prison; a fine on each count of the
greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the
offense; and the forfeiture of the proceeds of his crimes.
HOROWITZ is scheduled to be sentenced by United States
District Judge RICHARD M. BERMAN on December 3, 2009.
Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of FBI and
USPIS.
The case is being handled by the Office's General
Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys PETER SKINNER and
PARVIN MOYNE are in charge of the prosecution.
Press Releases | New York Home
|
