WHITEFISH, MT — In a shocking revelation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced criminal charges against Whitefish physician Ronald David Dean for alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and other government health programs. The fraudulent billing scheme is estimated to have totaled over $39 million.
The charges are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, a two-week nationwide operation targeting health care fraud and opioid abuse. Dean stands accused of charging for telemedicine visits that never occurred and orders for medical equipment and COVID-19 tests that patients did not need.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to holding criminals accountable, stating, “If you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable.”
“As alleged, Ronald David Dean bilked Medicare and other health programs for his own enrichment,” said U.S. Attorney Laslovich. An arraignment and plea hearing are scheduled for July 17 in Missoula.
This operation resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants across the nation, with a total of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. In addition to the cash seizure, luxury vehicles and gold were among the assets seized.
Prosecutions are being handled by multiple U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and State Attorney Generals’ Offices, supported by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Detailed descriptions of each case can be found on the Department’s website.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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