Leader in Philadelphia Ambulance Scam Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison

PHILADELPHIA—William Hlushmanuk, a/k/a “Bill Le,” 35, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for his participation in a health care fraud conspiracy involving ambulance services that were not medically necessary. Hlushmanuk pleaded guilty on February 5, 2013, to health care fraud and conspiring to commit health care fraud. Hlushmanuk admitted that from May 2006 through April 2011, he and his co-conspirators defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by billing for the unnecessary ambulance services. Hlushmanuk recruited and transported patients who were capable of walking, knowing that Medicare does not reimburse for patients who are ambulatory. Hlushmanuk also falsely registered the business in another person’s name because the Pennsylvania Department of Health had previously barred him from owning an ambulance company. As part of his plea agreement, Hlushmanuk admitted to acting as a leader of the conspiracy. In total, the conspiracy defrauded Medicare and Medicaid of approximately $5.4 million.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Senior Judge John R. Padova ordered Hlushmanuk to pay restitution in the amount of $5.4 million and ordered three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Invaluable assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Foulkes and Trial Attorney Adam L. Small of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.