Former Brunswick Resident Charged with Medicare Fraud
Defendant Allegedly Submitted Over $500,000 in Phony Claims for Back Braces and Other Medical Devices Through Medical Supply Companies Located in Houston and Brunswick

BRUNSWICK, GA—SAMUEL CURTIS, III, 37, who formerly resided in Brunswick, Georgia, but who now resides in Houston, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday and was charged today with attempting to steal more than $500,000 from Medicare through two medical equipment suppliers located in Brunswick, Georgia and Houston, Texas.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, “This indictment is another illustration of how health care fraud is a national problem and that a national response from law enforcement is necessary. This office will work aggressively and collaboratively with our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue health care fraudsters, in order to protect Medicare beneficiaries and the American taxpayer.”

According to an indictment filed yesterday in federal court in Brunswick, from 2006 through 2008, CURTIS operated Preferred Prosthetics and Orthotics (“Preferred”), located at in Brunswick, Georgia, and Team Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. (“Team”), located in Houston, Texas. Both Preferred and Team claimed to be suppliers of ankle braces, knee braces, back braces, and other medical devices. The indictment alleges that CURTIS, assisted by others, routinely billed Medicare for medical devices that were never provided to patients, not medically necessary, or not prescribed by a physician. CURTIS and his co-conspirators allegedly executed the scheme by stealing identifying information of both Medicare patients and doctors, and using that information to submit more than $500,000 worth of phony claims.

CURTIS is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000; four counts of health care fraud, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment; and four counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which require a two-year consecutive prison sentence to any other sentence imposed. Mr. Tarver emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tarver commended the investigative work of Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Tony Alig and the Department of Health Human Services, Office of the Inspector General Special Agent David Graupner. Assistant United States Attorney Brian T. Rafferty is prosecuting the case. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.