Canadensis chiropractor Dr. Maria Giacalone-Hewson, 43, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for her role in a tax and healthcare fraud scheme.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Giacalone-Hewson was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert Mariani in federal court in Scranton.
The charges against Giacalone-Hewson arose from the filing of a 2006 federal income tax return that falsely claimed her taxable income was $89,754, when, in fact, she had taxable income of $1,151,928, and owed at least $363,566 in taxes for that year.
Giacalone-Hewson was also held accountable at sentencing for taxes of $113,821 that she owed for tax years 2007 through 2010.
The investigation, which was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force, revealed that Giacalone-Hewson made false statements in connection with payment for health care benefits by submitting false written statements claiming that chiropractic and other services were provided to certain patients when no such services were in fact provided.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Mariani ordered that Giacalone-Hewson be supervised by a probation officer for three years following her release from prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Houser.
Dr. Giacalone-Hewson pleaded guilty to the tax and fraud charges in September of 2013, and a criminal Information was filed against her on July 15, 2013.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the sentencing, stating that Giacalone-Hewson’s actions were a betrayal of the public’s trust and a serious offense.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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