TUCSON, Ariz. – On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned a fifty-count indictment, charging Linh Cao Nguyen, M.D., 48, of Peoria, Arizona, with Health Care Fraud, False Statements Relating to a Health Care Matter, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Dr. Nguyen ran a mobile multi-specialty medical practice that primarily treated patients in their homes and living facilities throughout Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The indictment alleges that for over a decade, Dr. Nguyen, through his practice, engaged in a health care fraud scheme by submitting false claims to health care insurance programs for medical services: (1) that identified a physician as the rendering provider when Dr. Nguyen knew that the service was not completed by a physician and did not qualify for reimbursement as a physician; (2) that were not medically necessary; (3) that were billed at a higher complexity level than the actual level of care provided; and (4) that were not performed as the only legitimate service rendered was a Covid vaccination. The indictment also alleges that Dr. Nguyen created false medical records to conceal and avoid detection of his fraudulent billing practices. During the timeframe of the indictment, Dr. Nguyen, through his medical practice, is alleged to have billed Medicare approximately $50 million dollars and received approximately $33 million dollars in Medicare funds.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Inspector General), the United States Defense Criminal Investigative Service (Department of Defense Inspector General) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2716-TUC-JCH (LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-074_Nguyen
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
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| Component | USAO - Arizona; |
| OIG | Department of Defense OIG |