Anita Louise Jackson, Adulterating Surgical Devices, Medicare Fraud, Identity Theft, North Carolina 2024

Raleigh ENT Doctor Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Adulterating Surgical Devices, Defrauding Medicare, and Stealing Patient Identities

Anita Louise Jackson, 62, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for adulterating surgical devices used in more than 1400 nasal surgeries performed on Medicare patients between 2011 and 2018.

Jackson was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $4.7 million.

"This case is a reminder that healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. Jackson stole millions of dollars that are essential to the Medicare program and willfully endangered her patients' health," said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

Jackson was found guilty by a federal jury on 20 criminal counts, including device adulteration, fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft.

Jackson billed Medicare more than $46 million dollars for the balloon sinuplasty procedures between 2014 and 2018. In that time, she netted more than $4.79 million from Medicare for these surgeries.

The final judgment on restitution in this case will not be entered until after 90 days.

"U.S. consumers rely on FDA oversight to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective. When healthcare providers disregard safety information, including single-use and single-user designations, resulting in the adulteration of medical devices, they put patients' health at risk," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick Whelan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/raleigh-ent-doctor-sentenced-25-years-prison-adulterating-surgical-devices-defrauding