Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In October of 2011, 53-year-old Emilio Haber pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to commit health care fraud. Haber was sentenced on Monday, July 23rd, to five years in prison and three years of supervision once his prison time is served. U.S. District Judge Patrick Duggan of the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit handed down Haber’s sentence.
Haber will also be required to forfeit his bank account assets, which total approximately $99,000. He, along with co-defendants in the case, will also pay $6.4 million in restitution.
Michigan fraud defense attorneys know the serious consequences those accused of fraud related offenses face if convicted, and that it takes a skilled lawyer with expertise in complex financial matters to provide a solid, effective defense.
Haber allegedly bilked Medicare by paying some of his patients to fake ailments. Haber owned RiteCare LLC, a clinic located in Metro Detroit according to court records and testimony. According to these records, recruiters were paid as much as $150 to find individuals who for $75 would fake certain symptoms at the RiteCare clinics. Between 2007 and 2009, the fraudulent RiteCare scheme resulted in $6.3 million in Medicare payments of the $8.5 million in claims submitted.
According to the FBI website, Haber was ordered to pay $6,341,000 in restitution along with his co-defendants. The website also claims that Haber oversaw the fraudulent Medicare schemes at two of his clinics, and that he billed Medicare for tests and services which were not necessary, many of them nerve conduction studies.
The case against Haber was investigated by HHS-OIG (Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Haber’s financial future once released from prison appears bleak, considering the millions in restitution he and his co-defendants face.
Michigan criminal defense lawyers understand the importance of consulting with a capable, aggressive attorney even before you are charged with a criminal offense. Whether you suspect you are being investigated for fraudulent activity or have already been arrested, it is urgent that you seek legal guidance and representation at once. Failing to obtain competent legal counsel will likely lead to the loss of your reputation, freedom, and possibly your career.