A high-ranking home health manager has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a $21 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Felix Amos, 72, Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud on December 18, 2018.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen ordered Amos to serve 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $21,197,440 in restitution, according to the sentencing order.
Amos, along with his wife Oluyemisi Amos and Fausat Adekunle, operated five home health companies from 2010 to 2015. The companies, which included Dayton Health Bridges, Access Practical Solutions, Advanced Holistic, GetUpandWalk Inc., and Guarranty Home Health Agency, submitted claims to Medicare for home health services for patients who did not need services or did not receive services.
The three conspired to submit claims to Medicare for home health services for patients that did not need services or did not receive services. Physicians did not order these services for the beneficiaries, and authorities would place restrictions on them after noticing the high-volume billings, but not before Medicare had paid out millions in fraudulent claims.
The investigation into the Medicare fraud scheme was a joint effort between the IRS – Criminal Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, Secret Service, and Texas Attorney General’s – Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Abdul Farukhi prosecuted the case.
Fausat Adekunle was found guilty of 10 counts of health care fraud and was ordered to serve 144 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $21,197,440.14 in restitution.
Oluyemisi Amos previously pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 72 months in prison and was ordered to pay a portion of the restitution.
Felix Amos was permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility at a later date.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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