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Corning Man Pleads Guilty to Theft From Health Care Fund
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In a shocking turn of events, Brandon Wilson, a 26-year-old resident of Corning, New York, pleaded guilty to theft from a health care benefit program. The crime carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $5,000 fine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, Wilson was a member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 267 and participated in a scheme devised by Paul Harnas, Jr. to submit fraudulent dental claims for reimbursement from the Local 267 health fund. The defendant sought fraudulent payments totaling $6,358.
In aggregate, Harnas, Wilson, and others involved in the scheme submitted false claims to the Local 267 health fund totaling more than $65,000. Harnas has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York Regional Office, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, Frauds Bureau, under the direction of Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson. Wilson’s crime is a serious offense, and the court is expected to take a firm stance.
This case highlights the importance of accountability in the workplace and the need for vigilance in detecting and preventing healthcare fraud.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Financial Services, demonstrating the effectiveness of interagency cooperation in combating white-collar crime.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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