BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James A. Sakr, M.D., has agreed to pay $602,661.61 to resolve allegations, arising under the False Claims Act, that he fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures that were not medically necessary or that he did not perform.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Coriell, who handled the case, stated that from at least January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019, Dr. Sakr, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor based in Dansville, NY, billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures not performed at all or were not documented in patient medical records.
This health care provider billed for services and procedures that he did not perform and for which he was paid with the public’s money,” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “The resolution of this case holds Dr. Sakr accountable for his actions and requires him to return the money he should not have received from Medicare and Medicaid.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lee M. Mandel, M.D., FACS. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.
The resolution of this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Dr. Mandel will receive a share of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Mandel v. Sakr, 17-cv-907 (W.D.N.Y).
Defendant: James A. Sakr, M.D.
Criminal Charges: Fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures not medically necessary or not performed.
City and State: Buffalo, New York
Exact Date: January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019
Sentence or Outcome: Agreed to pay $602,661.61 to resolve allegations.
Related Federal Cases
- Letitia James, Investment Fraud, New York 2023 · New Hampshire
- Letitia James, Health Insurance Fraud, New York 2023 · Alabama
- Letitia James, Pension Fraud, New York NY, 2023 · New York
- James Doe, $100M Fraud Scheme, New York NY, 2023 · New York
- Letitia James, Tax Fraud and Bribery, New York 2023 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
