Related Federal Cases
Dr. Cheema’s Ill-Gotten Gains
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–A civil forfeiture complaint has been filed against Dr. Muhammad A. Cheema, 45, of Pittsford, NY, to forfeit assets allegedly obtained through fraud and that were involved in money laundering.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Grace M. Carducci, the complaint seeks the forfeiture of:
• $806,871.91 from three separate bank accounts held by the defendant;
• A 2015 Audi A8;
• A 2017 Mercedes Benz; and
• The defendant’s residence at 9 Bromsgrove Hill, in Pittsford, NY.
Dr. Cheema, a licensed physician who provides psychiatric services at his private practice, Upstate Psychiatry in Pittsford, as well as at Rochester Regional Health, and various nursing homes, was charged by criminal complaint with health care fraud and making false statements relating to health care matters on July 30, 2018.
Dr. Cheema’s alleged scheme involved routinely billing health insurance providers the highest level of evaluation and management services for new patient visits, with missing documentation to support the level of evaluation and management services for his established patients, among other things.
“As I stated at the time of the defendant’s arrest, our office is committed to ensuring that those who seek unjustly to enrich themselves by perpetrating frauds against the health care system are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “While the criminal complaint holds Dr. Cheema criminally responsible for his actions, this civil complaint seeks to divest him of his ill-gotten gains.”
The civil complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Superintendent Maria T. Vullo.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of the criminal charges, Dr. Cheema faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For more information, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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