Cardiologist Gets 20 Months In Prison For Billing Veterans Affairs For Hundreds Of Bogus Medical Procedures

NEWARK, N.J. – A Somerset, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for defrauding the Veterans Affairs program by billing for services he never performed, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Apostolos Voudouris, 44, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to an information charging him with health care fraud. Voudouris also entered into a civil settlement agreement with the government, under which he will pay $476,460 to resolve the government’s claims under the False Claims Act.

According to the documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

Voudouris is a physician specializing in cardiology and electrophysiology. Beginning in 2006, Voudouris provided services to eligible veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey, pursuant to his contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Voudouris admitted that on more than 350 occasions between 2011 and 2015, he submitted documentation to the VA claiming to have performed procedures he never performed. As a result, Voudouris fraudulently received $238,230 from the VA.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Voudouris to two years of supervised release and fined him $7,500. As part of his plea agreement, Voudouris must pay restitution of $238,230 to the VA in addition to the $476,460 civil settlement, for a total of $714,690.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigation Division, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sean Smith; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Elberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Kristen Santillo Esq., Newark