Former Middle Smithfield Township Supervisor Robert Spano Sentenced for Making False Statements in Connection with a Health Care Matter

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Spano, a former supervisor in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, was sentenced in federal court today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Richard P. Conaboy to a two-year term of probation, with four months to be spent on home confinement with electronic monitoring, and mandated that he must perform 50 hours of community service. Judge Conaboy further ordered that Spano pay $24,488.09 in restitution and a $500 fine.

According to United States Attorney Peter J, Smith, Spano, age 64, while a supervisor and employee of Middle Smithfield Township, participated in the township’s group health benefit plan administered by Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and in the township’s dental care benefits plan administered by United Concordia.

Spano completed health insurance and dental insurance enrollment forms in November 2007 in which he listed his girlfriend, referred to in the indictment as “C.B.,” as his spouse and as having the last name Spano, when in fact her last name was not Spano, and she was not his spouse. Spano was still legally married to another person and had filed for divorce from his wife in January 2011.

As a result of Spano’s misrepresentations, Middle Smithfield Township, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and United Concordia incurred expenses totaling approximately $24,488 for medical and dental services provided to C.B. and for higher health insurance premiums between 2007 and 2010.

Spano was indicted in November 2011 and pleaded guilty in February 2013.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara