Milwaukee Doctor Indicted on Health Care Fraud Charges

James L. Santelle, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 14, 2013, a federal grand jury in Milwaukee returned an indictment charging Dr. Cully R. White (age 44). Dr. White is charged with 13 counts of health care fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347. Dr. White, who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, is the owner and operator of Dr. Cully R. White, Neurosurgery & Spine, SC, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The indictment alleges that during the period from approximately November 2010 through October 2011, White carried out a scheme to defraud health insurance companies. As part of his scheme, White allegedly recruited another physician to dictate reports making it appear that the second physician had conducted interoperative nerve monitoring during surgeries performed by White. The second physician had no training or experience in, nor did he conduct interoperative nerve monitoring during White’s surgeries. The indictment further alleges White paid the second physician $150 for each report he dictated. White then used the reports prepared by the second physician to submit claims to insurance companies seeking payment for the second physician’s services.

According to the indictment, White submitted claims to insurance companies totaling more than $265,000 and ultimately received approximately $82,000. White paid the second physician a total of $14,850 for dictating the reports.

Each of the charges contained in the indictment carries a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs for prosecution.

The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely the formal method of presenting charges in federal court and does not constitute evidence of the defendant’s guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, as the government establishes his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.