Lawrence Ackerman, Health Care Fraud, New Jersey 2023

Bergen County insurance broker Lawrence Ackerman was sentenced to six months in prison and six months of home confinement for defrauding Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ackerman, a 55-year-old resident of Old Tappan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.

As part of his plea, Ackerman must make restitution to Blue Cross Blue Shield for the fraudulent claims paid between 2009 and 2013.

Ackerman was the chief operating officer of Atlantic Business Associates (ABA) and Atlantic Medical Associates (AMA), two 'shell' companies through which he marketed health insurance nationally to people who were not his employees and therefore ineligible for health coverage.

During the month of January 2011, he delivered $481,500 in health care benefits to ineligible participants.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, with the investigation leading to today's sentencing.

The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O'Malley of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

Ackerman originally was charged in a two-count indictment with conspiring to defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of $5.6 million in fraudulent claims, and for defrauding the Local 2326 (UAW) Welfare Fund of $1 million in fraudulent claims. Those charges are now dismissed, and he is also obligated to pay restitution of $1 million to the Local 2326 Welfare Fund.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/bergen-county-insurance-broker-sentenced-six-months-prison-six-months-home-confinement