Cleveland Ambulette Operators Face Fraud Charges

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Three operators of the Cleveland-based Eman Transportation Services are in hot water after being indicted on five counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Nedal ‘Mark’ Hasan, 45, of North Olmsted, Kim Gullie, 56, of Cleveland, and Nancy Pyles, 68, of Roanoke, Texas, are accused of bilking Medicaid out of approximately $245,000.

The trio allegedly charged for rides of patients who did not use or need wheelchairs and transported Medicaid recipients to appointments not covered by the program. Eman Transportation Services, which contracts with the Ohio Medicaid program to transport patients using ambulettes—specially equipped vans for wheelchair passengers—faces scrutiny over these fraudulent activities.

Medicaid payments are contingent upon several factors: the patient rides in a wheelchair, a medical doctor certifies the need for such transport, and the ambulette meets safety specifications. The indictment against the defendants reveals a scheme designed to bypass these stipulations, leaving taxpayers on the hook for fraudulent expenses.

In a statement, Dettelbach emphasized that the charges are merely accusations and do not constitute evidence of guilt. Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after considering federal sentencing guidelines and unique case factors, such as their prior criminal records (if any) and roles in the offenses.

The investigation leading to these charges was conducted by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Maritsa Flaherty will handle the prosecution.

As this case unfolds, it underscores the ongoing battle against health care fraud in the state of Ohio. The public is reminded that an indictment is not proof of guilt, and defendants are entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.