Troy Man Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael VonFricken, age 45, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 3 years of probation and 3 months of weekend incarceration at the Rensselaer County Jail for his part in a health care fraud that provided him with $32,732 in cash reimbursements from a local union, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. 

The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, and followed Michael VonFricken’s guilty plea, on February 24, 2016, to obtaining false receipts for orthodontic services and submitting them to the health care plan for the Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local Union Number 7. 

As part of his sentence, Michael VonFricken must complete 50 hours of community service and pay back the $32,732 that he fraudulently obtained. 

Michael VonFricken’s brother, John VonFricken, also of Troy, was sentenced on July 5 for defrauding the same union health plan.  John VonFricken also pled guilty in February to fraud, and to obtaining $54,600 in reimbursements for orthodontic work that he did not receive. He also received a sentence of 3 years of probation and 3 months of weekend incarceration.  John VonFricken was ordered to repay $54,000 to the union health plan. 

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon B. Shinerock.