Wayne W. Williamson, 74, of Kansas City, Mo., once a licensed physician before throwing it all away on fraud and drug charges, is back in federal court — and this time, he’s admitting guilt to defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs. Williamson pleaded guilty today to health care fraud, admitting he conducted disability examinations for veterans despite being permanently barred from Medicare and Medicaid programs and practicing medicine under license.
Williamson, who voluntarily surrendered his medical license in 2010 after pleading guilty to health care fraud, conspiracy to distribute Oxycodin, Percocet, and Xanax, and harassing a state medical board investigator, did prison time and was banned for life from federal health programs. But that didn’t stop him. From at least 2013 through March 2015, he worked as a medical consultant at Industrial Medical Center (IMC) in Independence, Mo., where he once again stepped into the role of doctor — illegally.
IMC held a contract with Logistics Health, Inc., to perform disability evaluations for veterans seeking benefits through the VA. The contract specifically required that exams be done by credentialed, licensed physicians with no exclusions from federal programs. After the only qualified provider left IMC on July 16, 2013, Williamson took over — conducting 209 disability examinations on 53 veterans. Each was a lie. IMC then falsified records, claiming a licensed physician had signed off electronically.
The fraud ran deep. IMC invoiced Logistics Health for the fake exams. Logistics, in turn, billed the VA. The federal agency paid out $39,155 for services that violated every rule in the contract. When Logistics Health caught wind and reported the scam to the VA Office of Inspector General in April 2014, the damage was already done. The VA had to re-adjudicate every claim — some vets forced into new physical exams, others delayed as files were re-reviewed.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Williamson must forfeit the full $39,155 to the government. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. While Congress sets the maximum, the actual sentence will depend on advisory guidelines and other factors determined at a hearing scheduled after a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cindi S. Woolery and Jane Pansing Brown and investigated by a multi-agency task force including the Department of Veterans Affairs—Office of Inspector General, the Department of Transportation—OIG, the Department of Labor—EBSA, and the Department of Health and Human Services—OIG. For a man already caught once in a web of medical fraud, the price of greed just got heavier.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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