Chiropractor Cracks, Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud For Third Time in a Decade Ridgcwood. NJ: Prosecutors sav Craig Klein, of Ridgew ood. filed misleading and faulty personal injury claims to auto insurers. He lias previous convictions for insurance fraud. A former chiropractor lias admitted guilt in running an auto insurance fraud sclieme for the third time in a decade. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced Wednesday. According to prosecutors. CraigKlcia 46. of Ridgcwood. paid "runners" to steer incident victims to Hamilton Rehabilitation Center in Patcrson and then submitted over 30 fraudulent personal injury claims to automobile insurers from Dec. 2010 and Feb. 2011. Klein, a co-owner, shared in the profits from the faulty claims, receiving between $500 and $75.(X)O. Valdes said. He has previous convictions for similar schemes in 2003 in Essex Comity and in Massachusetts in 200X. The state suspended his license to practice in 2005. Klein admitted guilt in providing false information to insurance companies that his downtown Patcrson office was actually legitimate. 'Valdes said. Prosecutors allege the chiropractic business - billed as a treatment center for those injured in auto accidents - was anything but. "He knew that non-chiropractors had an illegal disguised ow nership interest in the facility and that the facility paid runners for illegal referrals." Valdes said in a w rittcn statement. Three other employees of Hamilton Rehabilitation Center were also indicted for their alleged roles in the scheme, according to prosecutors. Klein pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by deception, a third degree charge that could land him behind bars for five years. The investigation took over a year and remains ongoing. Valdes said. Source: Riclgewood-Cilenrock Patch PI Chiropractor Convicted of Insurance Fraud CHESTERFIELD. MO Dr. Anthony Calandro. a Clieslerfield resident, and owner of the Chiropractic Accident Centre of Crcstw ood was convicted Now X of billing insurance companies for X-rays never taken and for appointments tliat the patients liad canceled or missed. His billing assistant Sherry Ructcr previously pled guilty to related charges. According to testimony presented at trial, during 2010 and 2011. two undercover investigations revealed that Dr. Calandro and Ms. Ructcrbilled multiple insurance companies for sen ices tliat were never rendered. From 2006 to 2011. tlicy submitted numerous reimbursement claims that falsely slated that the Chiropractic Centre had taken more X-rays than were actually taken. In most instances, only one or two X-rays were taken during a patient's visit, but many more X-ray views were billed. Since health insurance companies would not reimburse Chiropractic Centre if a claim indicated tlic patient had missed an appointment and had not received a billablc sen ice. they falsely indicated tliat a billablc sen ice liad been provided to patients. Using false codes, tlicy submitted thousands of false claims for missed appointments. Calandro and Chiropractic Accident Centre of Crcstwood PC were convicted of oik: felony count of health care fraud. Dr. Calandro was also convicted of three counts of milking false statements related to health care sen ices: tlic corporation was convicted of four counts of milking false statements. The four-day trial was held before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber. Sentencing forDr. Calandro is scheduled forFeb. 7.2013. Co-defendant Sherry Ruetcr. St. Louis. Missouri, pled guilty in October to four felony counts of milking false statements related to health care services and is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 24.2013. Each count of health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $25().()(K): each count of making false statements carries a maximum of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250.000. The corporation faces maximum fines up to $500.000 per count. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider tlic U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. Additionally, tlic defendants arc subject to forfeiture to the government of all money derived from their illegal activity. Tliis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Dorothy McMurtry and Diaiuia Collins prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office. SOURCE: mnv.Xewsmagazinenelu ork.com ('olorado. Hashing/on Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use Colorado, Washington Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use The same day President Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term. Colorado and Washington became the first two states in the country to legalize recreational marijuana use and possession for people over the age of 21. \falers approved the Colorado Marijuana Legalization Amendment, also known as Amendment 64. while tlic Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation. Initiative 502. was passed in Washington marking the first time recreational marijuana legislation was passed. Amendment 64 lists main restrictions in man juana use including it being "taxed in a manner similar to alcohol." Similarly to alcohol, customers arc required to present a plioto ID when purchasing marijuana. Those of the legal age will be allowed to purchase up to one ounce of tlic drug from retail stores and grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes. However selling, distributing and transferring marijuana to minors, driving under the influence and using marijuana in public remains illegal. Initiative 502 proposes a 25 percent tax imposed when the grower sells marijuana to a processor, again when llic processor sells it to a retailer and a third time when the retailer sells it to a customer. Source: The Review EZS Pass on the information to inform other D.C. 's about events that are really happening to chiropractors. For further information, fax 1-305-716-9212. Write us at [email protected] or UCO138, 8619 NW 68th St.. Miami, FL 33166.
