Frewsburg Man Leo A. Kronert Jr. Pleads Guilty to $92K Health Care Fraud

Frewsburg resident Leo A. Kronert Jr., 66, is facing federal prison after pleading guilty to a $92,000 health care fraud scheme that exploited Medicare and private insurers. The former Salamanca High School teacher and part-time chiropractor admitted to billing for services never rendered, including appointments on days he was traveling outside the region.

Kronert submitted fraudulent claims through his chiropractic practice in Salamanca, NY, charging insurance providers for patient visits that occurred while he was out of state. Investigators also uncovered bills tied to a patient who never lived in Western New York—proof of a brazen, sustained deception that slipped through the cracks for months.

The charges, filed in federal court in Buffalo, carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for February 28, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell is prosecuting the case.

Two federal agencies led the investigation: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, directed by Special Agent in Charge Scott Lampert. Their joint probe exposed the depth of Kronert’s double life—educator by day, fraudster by practice.

According to court documents, the false claims targeted both government-backed Medicare and multiple private insurance companies. Kronert’s scheme didn’t rely on complex shell companies or offshore accounts—just cold, calculated lies on claim forms that cost taxpayers and insurers nearly $100,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., emphasized that fraud like Kronert’s doesn’t just break the law—it undermines the entire health care system. With sentencing looming, the case serves as a warning: billing for ghost visits may seem low-risk, but federal watchdogs are watching.