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Billing insurance companies for $36,651 in treatments allegedly never provided may carry a far more expensive price tag for Doctor James Smiley, 36, a San Mateo chiropractor accused of insurance fraud.
Smiley was charged with 16 felony counts as a result of an investigation by the California Department of Insurance. It is alleged that between 1991 and 1994 he used the names of legitimate patients, but submitted bills for visits that never took place and for treatments/diagnostics never provided. The DOI began their inquiry after some of Smiley’s patients began receiving checks for reimbursement that they did not think they deserved.
A search warrant was issued and records from Smiley’s home and office were seized. Investigators uncovered eight instances in which companies were billed for services that were never performed.
Smiley surrendered himself to authorities in response to the issuance of a $50,000 arrest warrant. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and fined as much as $50,000.
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