Punson Figueroa, $9M Healthcare Fraud, New Jersey 2024

New York Acupuncturist Admits to $9M Amtrak Health Care Fraud Scheme

Newark, NJ - Punson Figueroa, a 57-year-old acupuncturist from Long Island City, New York, pleaded guilty to participating in a $9 million health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Figueroa and her conspirators agreed to engage in a scheme to bill the Amtrak health care plan for fraudulent claims for services that never were provided and were medically unnecessary from January 2019 through June 2022.

Figueroa recruited Amtrak employees to participate in the scheme by paying them cash in return for allowing her to use their personal and insurance information to submit false and fraudulent claims. It's reported that Figueroa conspired with dozens of Amtrak employees and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks to Amtrak employees over the course of the scheme.

The scheme was uncovered after an undercover law enforcement agent posed as an Amtrak employee and met with Figueroa at her office in New York. Figueroa instructed the undercover agent to sign his name about 30 times for services received and instructed the undercover agent not to date the signatures.

The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Figueroa's sentencing is scheduled for July 16, 2024.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant's Real Full Name: Punson Figueroa, Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, City and State: Newark, NJ, Exact Date: January 2019 - June 2022, Sentence or Outcome: Sentencing scheduled for July 16, 2024, Dollar Amounts: $9 million in false and fraudulent insurance claims.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/new-york-acupuncturist-admits-9-million-health-care-fraud-targeting-amtrak-0