Score:   1
Docket Number:   ED-NY  2:18-cr-00314
Case Name:   USA v. Abrahamson
  Press Releases:
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Hal Abrahamson, a podiatrist with offices in Plainview, Long Island, and Rego Park, Queens, was sentenced by United States District Judge Denis R. Hurley to one year and a day in prison for his role in a health care fraud scheme.  The Court also ordered Abrahamson to pay restitution of $869,651, a $50,000 fine and forfeit $177,000.  On June 26, 2018, Abrahamson pleaded guilty to health care fraud in connection with the operation of his podiatry practice.   

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, New York Region (HHS-OIG), announced the sentence.

“Greed dictated this doctor’s billing practices,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The defendant stole a million dollars from Medicare and private insurance companies but has been brought to justice.”  Mr. Donoghue thanked the FBI and HHS-OIG for their outstanding work on the case. 

According to court documents and as established at the plea proceeding, Abrahamson’s health care fraud scheme was ongoing from January 2013 until January 2017.  Abrahamson used several fraudulent billing techniques over the years, including: (i) billing for skin grafts and wound packing services never performed, (ii) billing for work purportedly done by another podiatrist whose reimbursement rate was higher, but which was in fact done by Abrahamson, or not at all, and (iii) billing for more expensive procedures than those actually performed.  Regarding the fraudulent billing for skin grafts, Abrahamson billed for this procedure 1,092 times over a four year period in which a podiatrist with a comparable practice in Plainview billed only once and another podiatrist in the defendant’s office billed only five times. 

Regarding the fraudulent billing for wound packing, Abrahamson billed for this procedure 757 times over a four-year period, and would routinely add this to his false billing under another podiatrist’s name. 

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

HAL ABRAHAMSON

Age:  57

Melville, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-314 (DRH)

 

Thirteen individuals, including five doctors, a chiropractor, three licensed physical and occupational therapists and two pharmacy owners have been charged for their participation in fraudulent schemes in connection with which Medicare and Medicaid programs were billed more than $163 million.  The charges filed in federal court in Brooklyn and Central Islip, New York, are part of a nationwide health care fraud takedown, led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which resulted in criminal charges against 601 individuals for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $2 billion in fraudulent claims.

The charges were announced by Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John P. Cronan, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, New York Regional Office (HHS-OIG); James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Dennis Rosen, Inspector General, New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG).  The results of the nationwide takedown were announced today by Attorney General Jeff Sessions; Alex M. Azar II, Secretary, HHS; Christopher Wray, Director, FBI; Robert W. Patterson, Acting Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Daniel Levinson, Inspector General, HHS-OIG; Don Fort, Chief, IRS-CI; Seema Verna, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“As alleged, the defendants charged throughout the Eastern District of New York as a part of the nationwide health care takedown abused their positions to enrich themselves, while bilking Medicare and Medicaid.  They did so without regard to the elderly and vulnerable citizens whose health depends upon these essential programs.  Licensed medical professionals and others who cheat the system will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  Mr. Donoghue extended his grateful appreciation to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General (OPM-OIG), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the New York City Human Resources Administration and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Office of Inspector General, for their assistance in the investigations in this district.

“Turning a blind eye to the needs of Medicare and Medicaid recipients,

these medical officials set their sights on personal gain,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Our doctors and healthcare professionals are entrusted to serve those in need, but these individuals used their occupations as leverage to fulfill their fraudulent scheme. By allegedly billing Medicare and Medicaid more than $163 million, the defendants selfishly diverted funds allocated to our most vulnerable citizens.  Devoted to protecting the welfare of our citizens, we will continue to uproot those who blatantly take advantage these programs.”

“Health care fraud depletes funds intended to provide care for our most vulnerable citizens,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Lampert.  “This takedown sends a clear message that criminals who engage in health care fraud schemes will be caught and face consequences for their actions.”

“Medical doctors and medical professionals should be some of the most trusted people in our lives,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge James Robnett.  “The financial expertise of IRS-Special Agents is needed to not only decipher the tax violations, but is necessary to unravel the sophisticated widespread financial fraud perpetrated against the safety net millions of Americans rely upon on a daily basis.”

“Medicaid fraud is not a victimless crime.  Those engaged in schemes like this prey on the most vulnerable New Yorkers, rob the health care system of vital resources, and waste taxpayer dollars,” stated OMIG Inspector General Rosen.  “My office will continue to work closely with our federal partners to hold wrongdoers fully accountable.”

The schemes charged in the Eastern District of New York, detailed in eight indictments and one criminal information, are as follows:

United States v. Wael Bakry, et al.:  The superseding indictment charges five health care professionals for their role in a wide-ranging health care fraud scheme in Brooklyn and Queens that billed the Medicare program for more than $116 million.  Wael Bakry, a physical therapist, Abraham Demoz, a physician, Victor Genkin, an occupational therapist, Mayura Kanekar, an occupational therapist, and Alexander Khavash, a chiropractor, were each charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks, conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the lawful functions of the Internal Revenue Service, and subscribing to a false and fraudulent tax return.  Additionally, Bakry, Kanekar and Khavash were each separately charged with two false claims counts.  The charges stem from the defendants’ involvement in a scheme, run through multiple medical practices, in which the defendants paid illegal kickbacks for the referral of patients to their clinics.  These patients, in turn, subjected themselves to purported physical and occupational therapy and other services in return for kickbacks.  The superseding indictment was filed on June 20, 2018.  The case, which is pending before United States District Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr., is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief A. Brendan Stewart and Trial Attorney Andrew Estes of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. 

United States v. Artem Ashirov:  The indictment charges Artem Ashirov, a pharmacist and sole proprietor of ABO Pharmacy in Brooklyn, with five counts of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute.  The charges stem from a scheme in which Ashirov paid and offered to pay kickbacks for prescriptions filled at his pharmacy.  Between 2015 and 2018, Ashirov, through ABO Pharmacy, billed more than $14.9 million to Medicare and Medicaid.  Ashirov was arrested, and arraigned earlier today before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr., at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin E. Argo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. 

United States v. Gary Peresiper:  The indictment charges Gary Peresiper, a medical clinic business manager, with conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks.  The charge stems from Peresiper’s role at two Brooklyn clinics, Pulmonary Solutions, P.C., and Multi Care Medical NY PLLC.  Peresiper and co-conspirators submitted claims through these clinics for purported diagnostic testing and other services for beneficiaries who had been directed to the clinics in return for kickbacks.  From November 2010 to June 2013, the clinics billed Medicare approximately $10.2 million in claims, and were paid approximately $4.7 million on those claims.  Peresiper was arrested, and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on June 4, 2018.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sarah Wilson Rocha of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

United States v. Iouri Winogradov:  Iouri Winogradov, the operator of Brooklyn ambulette company Ambulette Star Trans, was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The charges stem from Winogradov’s role in a kickback and money laundering scheme in which Winogradov and co-conspirators received and paid illegal kickbacks for the referral of patients to medical clinics.  The patients, who were transported to and from the clinics by Ambulette Star Trans, subjected themselves to purported physical and occupational therapy and other services.  Between 2010 and 2014, Ambulette Star Trans was paid approximately $7 million as a result of claims submitted to Medicaid.  The indictment was unsealed on June 27, 2018, and the defendant remains at large.  The case is being prosecuted by Andrew Estes of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

United States v. Yuriy Barayev:  Yuriy Barayev, a pharmacy owner, was indicted on one count of health care fraud.  The charge stems from Barayev’s ownership of a Queens pharmacy, Woodhaven Rx Inc., through which he submitted claims for medications that were purportedly dispensed by his pharmacy, but in fact were never dispensed to beneficiaries.  From November 2013 to December 2015, Medicare reimbursed the pharmacy approximately $6.6 million for pharmaceutical claims.  Barayev was arrested, and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on June 26, 2018.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sarah Wilson Rocha of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

United States v. Yong Jun Kim:  The indictment charges Yong Jun Kim, a medical doctor who operated My Health Wellness Center in Flushing, New York, with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute.  The charges stem from Dr. Kim’s role in a scheme in which claims were submitted to Medicare for physical therapy services that were not medically necessary, not provided, or otherwise did not qualify for reimbursement.  Between 2012 and 2015, Dr. Kim billed Medicare approximately $5.6 million and was paid approximately $3.5 million on those claims.  Dr. Kim was arrested, and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on June 27, 2018.  The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Patricia Notopoulos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

United States v. Yekaterina Kleydman:  The indictment charges Yekaterina Kleydman, a medical doctor, with one count of health care fraud and three counts of making false claims.  The charges stem from a scheme in which Dr. Kleydman fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for cosmetic dermatological procedures that did not qualify for reimbursement.  Between January 2015 and March 2018, Dr. Kleydman billed Medicare and Medicaid approximately $2.5 million and was paid approximately $700,000 on those claims.  Dr. Kleydman was arrested, and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on June 25, 2018.  The case is being handled by Trial Attorney Debra Jaroslawicz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

United States v. Harold Bendelstein:  The indictment charges Harold Bendelstein, a medical doctor, with one count of health care fraud and two counts of making false claims.  The charges stem from a scheme in which Dr. Bendelstein billed Medicare and Medicaid for incision procedures to patients’ ears, when, in fact, Dr. Bendelstein either did not perform the procedure specified or performed no procedure at all.  Between January 2014 and February 2018, Dr. Bendelstein billed Medicare and Medicaid approximately $585,000 and was paid approximately $200,000 on those claims.  Dr. Bendelstein was arrested, and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on June 27, 2018.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Debra Jaroslawicz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

United States v. Hal Abrahamson:  The information charges Hal Abrahamson, a licensed podiatrist, with one count of health care fraud.  The charges stem from a scheme in which Dr. Abrahamson submitted claims to Medicare and private insurance companies for procedures he did not perform, including skin grafts and wound packing, among other false billings.  Between 2013 and 2017, Dr. Abrahamson caused a loss of approximately $869,000 to the Medicare program and other insurers.  Dr. Abrahamson was arraigned and pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Denis R. Hurley at the federal courthouse in Central Islip on June 26, 2018.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. 

The charges are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Defendants:

WAEL BAKRY

Age:  46

Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-0353 (SJ)

Dr. Abraham Demoz

Age: 58

Oceanside, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-0353 (SJ)

Victor Genkin

Age: 49

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-0353 (SJ)

Mayura Kanekar

Age: 43

Bayside, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-0353 (SJ)

Alexander Khavash

Age: 41

Parkland, Florida

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-0353 (SJ)

Artem Ashirov

Age:  42

Rego Park, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0321 (WFK)

Gary Peresiper

Age:  52

East Rockaway, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0280 (SJ)

Iouri Winogradov

Age:  51

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0317 (JBW)

Yuriy Barayev

Age:  43

Briarwood, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0318 (FB)

Dr. Yong Jun Kim

Age:  48

Roslyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0320 (ARR)

Dr. Yekaterina Kleydman

Age:  35

Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0310 (NGG)

Dr. Harold Bendelstein

Age:  57

Far Rockaway, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0309 (SJ)

Dr. Hal Abrahamson

Age:  55

Melville, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-0314 (DRH)

 

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-3v2EK8EmyE5ad7SJVFdhVJttAtvboVhk3t90nXtFGY
  Last Updated: 2023-10-14 23:22:27 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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