Two Charged in Health Care Fraud Scheme

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced Dr. Adolph Yaniz, and Munir Chaudhry, d/b/a Medway Diagnostic Laboratories, were charged by an indictment unsealed today with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Yaniz, 49, of Merrillville, Indiana, and Chaudhry, 63, of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud health care programs and four counts of substantive health care fraud violations. Yaniz was also charged with one count of receiving kickbacks, four counts of dispensing drugs without legitimate medical purposes, and one count of conspiracy to distribute Vicodin. Chaudhry was also charged with one count of paying kickbacks, and one count of providing false information to federal agents.

Both Yaniz and Chaudhry were taken into custody this morning and will make an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Hammond this afternoon. The United States Attorney’s Office will seek pre-trial detention on Dr. Yaniz.

This indictment was the result of an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Indiana Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Timothy McClure, deputy director of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit said, “I am very pleased with the outcome of this investigation. This investigation was a success because of the combined efforts of members of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the DEA, FBI and FDA, and United States Attorney's Office. I truly believe we serve the taxpayers best when we pool our resources and fight fraud head-on.”

If convicted, the specific sentence in each case will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. In addition, upon conviction Yaniz and Chaudhry will forfeit any property derived as a result of the offenses.

This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.