$12 Million Health Care Fraud Conspiracy - Two Doctors and Four Others Arrested

The 25-count indictment was returned July 1, 2015, and unsealed today. Those charged and arrested today include the owner and operator of the clinics and lab—Mktrich “Mike” Yepremian, 58, Dr. Harding Ross, 61, Dr. Faiz Ahmed, 63, Jermaine Doleman, 38, Michael Wayne Wilson, 46, and Eric Johnson, 61, all of Houston.

HOUSTON—Six Houstonians have been arrested on wide-ranging charges involving a $12 million conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to pay kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. The arrests were made in conjunction with a search warrant executed at a downtown office building where several clinics and a blood testing laboratory were located.

The 25-count indictment was returned July 1, 2015, and unsealed today. Those charged and arrested today include the owner and operator of the clinics and lab—Mktrich “Mike” Yepremian, 58, Dr. Harding Ross, 61, Dr. Faiz Ahmed, 63, Jermaine Doleman, 38, Michael Wayne Wilson, 46, and Eric Johnson, 61, all of Houston.

They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy at 2:00 p.m. today.

The indictment alleges Yepremian paid Doleman, Wilson and Johnson to bring Medicare and Medicaid patients to his clinics in order for him to bill for multiple, medically unnecessary diagnostic and blood tests. In turn, Doleman, Wilson and Johnson would then allegedly pay the patients to attend the clinics. Doleman is also charged in this district in another health care fraud scheme over allegedly similar conduct.

According to the indictment, the scheme began in 2006. The indictment alleges Yepremian controlled all funds from the false billing, but the clinics were allegedly held in the names of “straw owners.” The clinics involved included Crawford Medical Services, Mid City Healthcare and Care Family Practice all in Houston; Arca Medical Clinic formerly in Conroe and now in Houston, as well as a lab called Empire Clinical Laboratory in Houston.

They represent the most brazen, vicious or klutziest insurance cons of the last year. Small wonder, they inflicted costly fakes and pains on consumers and insurers throughout the nation.

America's pharaohs of fraud possess an uncanny drive to connive in pursuit of the immaculate deception. But the newly inducted meaculprits received a loud break-up call: They were convicted last year thanks to the tireless efforts of fraud fighters.

FBI News - Two Doctors and Four Others Arrested

Dr. Spyros Panos | Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Malpractice Fraud

The orthopedist made more than $35 million in false claims for thousands of botched and faked surgeries. He rushed up to 20 surgeries in a day — as many as other orthos normally perform in a month. One surgery lasted seven minutes.

Panos bounced from operating room to operating room in quick sequence. He performed substandard surgeries, or just sliced open patients and stitched them up without making repairs. Panos also billed routine arthroscopic procedures as expensive open surgeries.

Christine Steele had two useless knee surgeries and has been unable to work full-time ever since.

Chris Hanson never recovered after three surgeries, including two knee repairs. He can't work at age 55 and has trouble walking. Panos also operated on both Achilles tendons of a senior. She is in constant pain and can't even play with her grandchildren.

Panos received 4½ years in federal prison and faces about 260 malpractice suits.

Dr. Farid Fata | Detroit, Mich. Medicare Fraud

Seniors received painful and debilitating chemo therapy for cancer they never had. Cancer specialist Fata made $225 million in false Medicare claims. About half went for needless chemo and other cancer treatments. He deliberately misdiagnosed patients who were in remission or had no chance of surviving.

Medicare paid out more than $91 million, and Fata billed private insurers as well.

Fata gave one patient 155 chemo treatments over 2½ years — though the patient was cancer-free. Other patients were pumped with useless blood therapy and iron treatments. And one patient fell down and badly injured his head at the office. Yet Fata insisted that the patient receive his chemo before going to the ER.

Fata also faked anemia and fatigue diagnoses to justify giving patients dangerous levels of billable drugs. 

He faces up to 175 years in federal prison when sentenced.