Four defendants, including two sober home owners, the clinical director of a substance abuse treatment center, and a sales representative for multiple laboratories, pleaded guilty to participating in a multi-million health care fraud and money laundering scheme in Florida.
The scheme involved the filing of fraudulent insurance claim forms and defrauding health care benefit programs. The defendants were involved in sober homes and addiction treatment centers, where they provided kickbacks and bribes to individuals with insurance in exchange for their participation in the scheme.
Michael Bonds, 45, of Delray Beach, Stefan Gatt, 27, of Deerfield Beach, and Fransesia Davis, a/k/a ‘Francine,’ a/k/a ‘Francesa,’ 44, of Lake Worth, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Davis also pleaded guilty to one count of managing, leasing, profiting from, and making available a place (one of her sober homes) for the purpose of the unlawful distribution and use of controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 856(a). Sentencing hearings are scheduled for April 24, 2017.
Co-defendants Kenneth Chatman, a/k/a ‘Kenny,’ 46, of Boynton Beach, Joaquin Mendez, 52, of Miramar, Laura Chatman, 44, of Boynton Beach, and Donald Willems, 40, of Weston, are scheduled to go to trial on March 20, 2017. They are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and other related charges.
In a separate case, Licensed Mental Health Counselor Dr. Barry Gregory, 62, of Wellington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of knowingly falsifying a matter involving health care benefit programs, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1035(a)(1) and 2. Sentencing for Gregory is scheduled for April 26, 2017.
The defendants’ actions resulted in significant financial losses for insurance companies and health care benefit programs. The exact amount of the losses is not specified.
The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, Florida Chief Financial Officer’s Office, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, National Insurance Crime Bureau, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach Police Department, Delray Beach Police Department, Florida Attorney General’s Office, and Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General.
Related Federal Cases
- Christopher Gregory Wayne, Health Care Fraud, Conspiracy to Violate Narcotics Laws, Florida 2014 · Florida
- Francisco Enrique Chavez, Health Care Fraud, Florida 2013 · Florida
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Florida 2004 · Florida
- Armand J. Croteau, IRS Fraud Scheme, Florida 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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