Guilty Plea in Health Care Billing Fraud Case

HAMMOND, IN—Mark S. Weinberger, 47, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon today to a federal indictment charging him with defrauding health care benefit programs in connection with the payment of health care benefits, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347. The indictment is based upon Weinberger’s role in defrauding health insurance companies and a labor union health and welfare fund. Weinberger pled guilty to all 22 counts of the indictment, which allege that for each of the 22 patients referenced in the indictment, Weinberger billed insurance companies for procedures that he did not actually perform. U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon set a sentencing date of January 21, 2010 at 9:30 AM. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Department of Labor OIG - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.