Peter Bolos, Healthcare Fraud, Tennessee 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– A Knoxville man has been convicted of his role in a long-term, multi-defendant healthcare fraud scheme. Peter Bolos, 55, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, mail fraud, and criminal misbranding following a month-long trial in the United States District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Operation HealthWrong, a long-term investigation of a telemarketing and pharmacy scheme, resulted in the indictment of seven individuals, including Bolos, a medical doctor, and two pharmacists. All but one of the individuals entered guilty pleas to offenses related to the investigation.

Bolos was sentenced in May 2022 to 14 years in federal prison. The Court also ordered over $100 million in restitution and forfeiture. The United States recovered over $26 million at or prior to the completion of sentencings.

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (“NHCAA”) recognized the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee for their work on the case. NHCAA’s mission is to protect and serve the public interest by increasing awareness and improving the detection, investigation, civil and criminal prosecution, and prevention of healthcare fraud and abuse.

Bolos, a resident of Knoxville, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, mail fraud, and criminal misbranding. He was sentenced in May 2022.

The successful investigation and prosecutions of multiple defendants arising from Operation HealthWrong received the NHCAA’s nationwide Investigation of the Year award. NHCAA recognized the following members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work on the case: former Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Harker, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac D. Heavener, Legal Assistants Barbra Pemberton and April Denard, and IT Specialist Bryan Brandenburg.

The federal partners recognized for their work on the case included the Consumer Protection Branch (former Assistant Director John Claud and Trial Attorney David Gunn), the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (Supervisory Special Agent Robert Turner), the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (Special Agent John Lyons), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Special Agent Reanna O’Hare and Financial Analyst LeAnn Lanz), the United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (Special Agent Brian Kriplean), the United States Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General (Supervisory Special Agent Wayne VanVarick), and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (Special Agent Timothy Jones).

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