Salamanca Chiropractor Arrested And Charged With Health Care Fraud

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Leo A. Kronert, Jr., aka Lee Kronert, of Frewsburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with health care fraud and false statements relating to health care matters. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between January 2011 and December 2015, the defendant, a full time teacher at Salamanca High School and a part time chiropractor in Salamanca, NY, submitted false claims for payment to Medicare and private insurance companies seeking reimbursement for health care services allegedly provided in connection with his chiropractic practice. The claims included services allegedly performed on Kronert’s family members, claims for services the defendant did not provide, and claims for services allegedly provided while the defendant was out of town.

Kronert made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent in Charge and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott Lampert.

The fact that the defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.