Chiropractor Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Defrauding Insurance Companies of More Than $750,000
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 21, 2009 |
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR. the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RONALD J. VERROCHIO, the Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service ("USPIS") announced today that MICHAEL HOROWITZ, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty to a scheme to defraud insurance companies of more than $750,000 by billing for medical services that were not performed.
According to the Complaint, the Indictment to which HOROWITZ pleaded guilty, and statements made in court:
HOROWITZ practiced chiropractics at "Horowitz Family Chiropractic" in downtown Manhattan. In February 2002, CHRISTOPHER GREEN, a co-defendant who previously pleaded guilty in August 2007 to participating in the same health care fraud conspiracy In August 2007, joined HOROWITZ and opened "Wall Street Chiropractic" on Wall Street in New York City.
From at least 2003 to December 2006, HOROWITZ and GREEN defrauded insurance companies including, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, AETNA, and CIGNA. Specifically, HOROWITZ and GREEN billed insurance companies for providing chiropractic treatments that were not in fact provided. HOROWITZ admitted to false billings totaling $773,099.18.
HOROWITZ, 40, of Marlboro, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit health care and mail fraud (Count Three of the Indictment) before United States Magistrate Judge JAMES C. FRANCIS IV. HOROWITZ faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; a fine on each count of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense; and the forfeiture of the proceeds of his crimes.
HOROWITZ is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge RICHARD M. BERMAN on December 3, 2009.
Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of FBI and USPIS.
The case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys PETER SKINNER and PARVIN MOYNE are in charge of the prosecution.
