Investigative Press Releases
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man today admitted defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of more than $118,000 in disability benefits and sending an interstate text message threatening a federal agent with bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Anthony Ryan Webb, 42, of Ethel, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Seattle – A resident of Astoria, Oregon was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for five federal felonies connected to his scheme to profit from illegal kickbacks in the medical testing industry, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Richard Reid, 53, was convicted in March 2022, following a six-day jury trial. At today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour denied a defense motion to postpone the prison sentence while Reid appeals his conviction.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
PITTSBURGH, PA – Three Pennsylvania men have pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
CINCINNATI – A former insurance agent pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to defrauding dozens of victims in the Cincinnati and Dayton area.
Specifically, Seneca Birchmore, 45, of Cincinnati, admitted to committing aggravated identity theft, a federal crime punishable by a mandatory two-year prison sentence. Birchmore also fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Monday, January 9, 2023
ATLANTA –Aarti D. Pandya, M.D. and Aarti D. Pandya, M.D. P.C. (“Pandya Practice Group”) have agreed to pay approximately $1,850,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by, among other things, billing the government for cataract surgeries and diagnostic tests that were not medically necessary, tests that were incomplete or of worthless value, and office visits that did not provide the level of service claimed.
Monday, January 9, 2023
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant, RACHEL COONEY, of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 5, 2023 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
Monday, January 9, 2023
SAVANNAH, GA: A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Stewart has been sentenced to federal prison for leading a prolific fraud scheme in which she and others illegally raked in millions of dollars from COVID-19 relief programs and federal student loan forgiveness.
Monday, January 9, 2023
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENYA BUTLER-SMALL was sentenced on January 5, 2023 for conduct alleged to have occurred while she was employed by Amtrak as an On-board Services Train Attendant.
Monday, January 9, 2023
MIAMI – A Florida doctor was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for engaging in a massive multi-year scheme to bill health care benefit programs for fraudulent tests and treatments for vulnerable patients seeking treatment for drug and/or alcohol addiction. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Sober Homes Initiative.