California’s prosecutors are making headway in efforts to get bad actors out of the state’s workers’ comp system. They recently secured guilty pleas from two providers in a case that generated millions in fraudulent bills. Much of the alleged fraud, however, was not prosecuted but any resulting liens are subject to a stay and possible …
Chiropractor Paul Turley copped a plea to his role in a $150 million workers’ comp fraud and conspiracy scheme that bilked California employers for years. The scheme allegedly paid applicant attorneys and cappers up to $10,000 a month for patient referrals. Turley is one of a dozen defendants (for past coverage of the case see …
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed a 12-count indictment against the brother and sister owners of a Southern California construction company. Allegedly State Compensation Insurance Fund was cheated out of $6 million in premium. Charged are Enrique Vera, the owner of Ultimate Inc., and his sister Gloria Vera the company’s office manager. The pair …
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of California unsealed a 12-count indictment and arrest warrant against the head of a statewide imaging network with alleged ties to another well-publicized kickback and referral scheme. The indictment against Sam Solakyan who ran Vital Imaging, San Diego MRI Institute, Global Holdings, and other operations includes charges …
Key officials behind the BaronHR staffing companies, including its founder and current chairman Luis Enrique Perez, are being charged with workers’ comp and tax fraud. The Orange County’s District Attorney’s office filed a 15-count felony indictment against Perez, Veronica Lake who worked as his controller, and Scott Wesley Smith who was director of safety at …
A California Court of Appeal ruled the government can proceed with fraud charges filed against chiropractor Peyman Heidary for allegedly bilking the workers’ comp system out of millions. The Fourth District just rejected Heidary’s petition to have the indictment set aside for lack of probable cause. The Riverside County District Attorney charged Heidary last year …
“There is not sufficient evidence for the Court to award restitution,” say federal prosecutors in a declaration concerning many of the claims made by carriers about a workers’ comp fraud ring. The ring generated hundreds of millions of dollars in billings for spinal surgeries that were fueled by a widespread kickback scheme paying providers for …
Assembly Insurance Committee chairman Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) won easy passage out of his committee for two bills that he is championing – AB 1749 covering workers’ comp benefits for peace officers injured out of state, and AB 2046 to implement new anti-fraud provisions. Each bill passed unanimously, but not without some industry opposition. Daly is …