Detroit-Area Medicare Fraud Ring Leader Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Tax Evasion

LANSING, Mich.—The “mastermind” of a scheme to defraud Medicare of about $29 million through 30 sham medical clinics in the Detroit area pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and tax evasion, the Department of Justice said May 3 (United States v. Sharma).

Sachin Sharma created and oversaw a network of health clinics purporting to offer home care, psychotherapy, and other services, which were used to bill Medicare for services that were never provided, the government said. Sharma, who trained others in techniques to defraud Medicare and conceal the fraud, set up ...