Cardiologist Sentenced To Prison For Decade-Long Health Care Fraud Scheme
summary
Cardiologist Asim Hameedi was sentenced to 20 months in prison for orchestrating a decade-long healthcare fraud scheme (2003–2015) through his clinic, City Medical Associates, by falsifying patient records, billing for unperformed procedures, using fake doctor identities, and illegally accessing patient data, resulting in $554,331 in losses and a $100,000 fine.
paragraph
Asim Hameedi, owner of City Medical Associates in Queens, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for a scheme spanning 2003 to 2015 that defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers of $554,331. He submitted false claims by fabricating patient symptoms, backdating bills, billing for non-performed tests and drugs, and impersonating non-employees as ordering physicians, while also violating HIPAA by unlawfully accessing patient records to recruit patients. In addition to a 20-month prison term and two years of supervised release, he was ordered to pay $554,331 in restitution and a $100,000 fine, with multiple co-conspirators also pleading guilty to related charges including money laundering and identity theft.
narrative
Cardiologist Asim Hameedi, owner of City Medical Associates in Bayside, Queens, orchestrated a decade-long healthcare fraud scheme from 2003 to 2015 that defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers of $554,331. He systematically falsified patient medical information to obtain preauthorization for unnecessary procedures, backdated billing records to circumvent insurer requirements, and billed for tests and medications never administered. To evade detection of the clinic’s high volume of fraudulent claims, Hameedi falsely attributed services to licensed physicians who never worked at the clinic, while also illegally accessing electronic health records from a Long Island hospital to identify and recruit patients, violating HIPAA. He further obstructed an investigation into his nephew’s misconduct, and after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, two years of supervised release, $554,331 in restitution, and a $100,000 fine. Several co-conspirators, including family members and staff, also pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. The case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and NYPD, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.
Classified health-care-fraud(confidence 99%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Statutes
28 U.S.C. § 515
Parties
arif hameediasim hameedifawad hameediFederal Bureau of Investigationilan t. graff
Keywords
health carefraudcare fraudhealthconspiracy commitcarehameedifraud schemeconspiracynewcommitcommit healthfraud wirewire fraudscheme
Extracted insights
Dollar amounts 3
- $554K $554,331 $100K–$1M
- $544K $544,331 $100K–$1M
- $100K $100,000 $100K–$1M
Entities 6
- person arif hameedi
- person asim hameedi
- person fawad hameedi
- agency Federal Bureau of Investigation
- person ilan t. graff
- scheme_term on february 6, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
Triples 18
- Asim Hameedi Sentenced To Prison For Decade-Long Health Care Fraud Scheme
- Asim Hameedi Provided False Patient Medical Information And Used Identities Of Doctors Who Did Not Work At The Clinic To Submit Fraudulent Health Care Claims
- Ilan T. Graff Announced Asim Hameedi Was Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison For Orchestrating A Widespread Healthcare Fraud Scheme From Approximately 2003 To 2015
- Asim Hameedi Owned City Medical Associates ("Cma")
- Asim Hameedi Pled Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Health Care Fraud Before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl
- Mr. Graff Said Doctors And Medical Clinics Should Be Focused On Their Patients’ Wellbeing, Not On Fraudulently Lining Their Own Pockets
- Fbi Conducted Investigative Work That Led To Asim Hameedi Being Headed To Prison For Defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, And Private Health Insurance Companies
- Cma Conducted A Multifaceted Scheme Spanning Approximately 12 Years And Involving Millions Of Dollars In Falsified Claims
- Asim Hameedi Was A Leader Of A Long-Running, Wide-Ranging Fraud Scheme
- Asim Hameedi Made False Representations To Insurance Providers About Patients’ Symptoms In Order To Obtain Preauthorization For Medical Tests And Procedures
- Asim Hameedi Backdated Bills In Order To Create The False Impression That Medical Procedures Had Not Been Performed Until After Cma Received "Pre"-Authorization From An Insurer
- Asim Hameedi Submitted False Claims To Insurance Providers For Parts Of Tests That Were Not Performed, As Well As For Drug Items Not Used Or Provided
- Asim Hameedi Evaded Scrutiny From Insurers For The Large Volume Of Claims That Cma Submitted By Falsely Representing That Several Doctors – Who Did Not Work At Cma – Had Purportedly Ordered Or Performed Tests Or Procedures There
- Asim Hameedi Violated Hipaa By Accessing, Without Authorization, Electronic Health Records Of Patients At A Particular Hospital On Long Island, New York, In Order To Identify Patients To Be Recruited To Cma
- Asim Hameedi Tried To Obstruct An Investigation By Hospital Officials Into Misconduct By His Nephew, Codefendant Fawad Hameedi
- Asim Hameedi Was Sentenced To Two Years Of Supervised Release, Restitution Of $554,331, And A $100,000 Fine
- Fawad Hameedi Pled Guilty On February 7, 2018, To One Count Of Conspiracy To Commit Health Care Fraud
- Arif Hameedi Pled Guilty On February 6, 2018, To One Count Of Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering
Extracted body text (5,930c)
Press Release Cardiologist Sentenced To Prison For Decade-Long Health Care Fraud Scheme Thursday, May 20, 2021 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Asim Hameedi Provided False Patient Medical Information and Used Identities of Doctors Who Did Not Work at the Clinic to Submit Fraudulent Health Care Claims Ilan T. Graff, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that cardiologist ASIM HAMEEDI was sentenced to 20 months in prison for orchestrating a widespread healthcare fraud scheme from approximately 2003 to 2015. HAMEEDI owned a Queens, New York, medical clinic, City Medical Associates (“CMA”), through which he perpetrated a fraud scheme involving, among other things, fraudulent reimbursement claims and false representations to insurers regarding medical tests and procedures. HAMEEDI previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence. Mr. Graff said: “Doctors and medical clinics should be focused on their patients’ wellbeing, not on fraudulently lining their own pockets. Thanks to the dogged investigative work of our partners at the FBI, HHS, and NYPD, Asim Hameedi is headed to prison for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance companies.” According to the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings: CMA, a cardiology and neurology clinic based in Bayside, Queens, conducted a multifaceted scheme spanning approximately 12 years and involving millions of dollars in falsified claims. HAMEEDI, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, was CMA’s president and owner. As HAMEEDI has acknowledged, he was a leader of this long-running, wide-ranging fraud scheme, which involved various co-conspirators and several codefendants. HAMEEDI’s healthcare fraud scheme included, among other things: (1) making false representations to insurance providers about patients’ symptoms in order to obtain preauthorization for medical tests and procedures; (2) backdating bills in order to create the false impression that medical procedures had not been performed until after CMA received “pre”-authorization from an insurer; (3) submitting false claims to insurance providers for parts of tests that were not performed, as well as for drug items not used or provided; (4) evading scrutiny from insurers for the large volume of claims that CMA submitted by falsely representing that several doctors – who did not work at CMA – had purportedly ordered or performed tests or procedures there; and (5) violating HIPAA by accessing, without authorization, electronic health records of patients at a particular hospital on Long Island, New York, in order to identify patients to be recruited to CMA. Additionally, HAMEEDI tried to obstruct an investigation by hospital officials into misconduct by his nephew, codefendant Fawad Hameedi. In addition to his prison sentence, HAMEEDI, 50, of New York, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release, restitution of $554,331, and a $100,000 fine. * * * Fawad Hameedi, 35, pled guilty on February 7, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Arif Hameedi, 59, pled guilty on February 6, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Absar Haaris, 51, pled guilty on November 15, 2016, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose individually identifiable health information. Haaris was previously sentenced, by the Honorable Jed S. Rakoff, principally to time served, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $544,331.51. Michelle Landoy, 40, pled guilty on January 29, 2018, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, and aggravated identity theft. Desiree Scott, 41, pled guilty on February 6, 2018, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, and aggravated identity theft. Mr. Graff praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Regional Office of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Graff also thanked the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is handling this criminal case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff, David M. Abramowicz, and Kristy J. Greenberg are in charge of the prosecution. Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated May 20, 2021 Topic Healthcare Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 21-119
OCR text (5,930c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Cardiologist Sentenced To Prison For Decade-Long Health Care Fraud Scheme Thursday, May 20, 2021 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Asim Hameedi Provided False Patient Medical Information and Used Identities of Doctors Who Did Not Work at the Clinic to Submit Fraudulent Health Care Claims Ilan T. Graff, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that cardiologist ASIM HAMEEDI was sentenced to 20 months in prison for orchestrating a widespread healthcare fraud scheme from approximately 2003 to 2015. HAMEEDI owned a Queens, New York, medical clinic, City Medical Associates (“CMA”), through which he perpetrated a fraud scheme involving, among other things, fraudulent reimbursement claims and false representations to insurers regarding medical tests and procedures. HAMEEDI previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence. Mr. Graff said: “Doctors and medical clinics should be focused on their patients’ wellbeing, not on fraudulently lining their own pockets. Thanks to the dogged investigative work of our partners at the FBI, HHS, and NYPD, Asim Hameedi is headed to prison for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance companies.” According to the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings: CMA, a cardiology and neurology clinic based in Bayside, Queens, conducted a multifaceted scheme spanning approximately 12 years and involving millions of dollars in falsified claims. HAMEEDI, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, was CMA’s president and owner. As HAMEEDI has acknowledged, he was a leader of this long-running, wide-ranging fraud scheme, which involved various co-conspirators and several codefendants. HAMEEDI’s healthcare fraud scheme included, among other things: (1) making false representations to insurance providers about patients’ symptoms in order to obtain preauthorization for medical tests and procedures; (2) backdating bills in order to create the false impression that medical procedures had not been performed until after CMA received “pre”-authorization from an insurer; (3) submitting false claims to insurance providers for parts of tests that were not performed, as well as for drug items not used or provided; (4) evading scrutiny from insurers for the large volume of claims that CMA submitted by falsely representing that several doctors – who did not work at CMA – had purportedly ordered or performed tests or procedures there; and (5) violating HIPAA by accessing, without authorization, electronic health records of patients at a particular hospital on Long Island, New York, in order to identify patients to be recruited to CMA. Additionally, HAMEEDI tried to obstruct an investigation by hospital officials into misconduct by his nephew, codefendant Fawad Hameedi. In addition to his prison sentence, HAMEEDI, 50, of New York, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release, restitution of $554,331, and a $100,000 fine. * * * Fawad Hameedi, 35, pled guilty on February 7, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Arif Hameedi, 59, pled guilty on February 6, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Absar Haaris, 51, pled guilty on November 15, 2016, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose individually identifiable health information. Haaris was previously sentenced, by the Honorable Jed S. Rakoff, principally to time served, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $544,331.51. Michelle Landoy, 40, pled guilty on January 29, 2018, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, and aggravated identity theft. Desiree Scott, 41, pled guilty on February 6, 2018, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification information, and aggravated identity theft. Mr. Graff praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Regional Office of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Graff also thanked the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is handling this criminal case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff, David M. Abramowicz, and Kristy J. Greenberg are in charge of the prosecution. Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated May 20, 2021 Topic Healthcare Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 21-119