CINCINNATI—Federal and state health care fraud
investigators arrested Abubakar Atiq Durrani, 44, of Mason, Ohio, today
based on a federal complaint alleging that he convinced patients to
undergo medically unnecessary spinal surgeries then billed private and
public health care benefit programs millions of dollars for the
fraudulent services.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine; Lamont Pugh, III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Kevin R. Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati Field Office (FBI); Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Bret Flinn, Resident Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) announced the arrest.
Durrani owns a private practice called the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies (CAST) with offices in Evendale, Ohio and Florence, Kentucky.
The complaint charges Durrani with one count of health care fraud and one count of making false statements in health care matters. Health care fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The crime of making false statements in health care matters is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Durrani will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman in Cincinnati at 1:30 today.
Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by agents and officers of the agencies named above, along with the Ohio Medical Board and Kentucky Medical Board and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Mangan and Emily Glatfelter, who are representing the United States in the case.
Anyone suspecting health care fraud, waste, or abuse can report it by calling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General at 800-447-8477. To learn more about health care fraud prevention and enforcement go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. Ohioans can report suspected instances of health care fraud to Attorney General DeWine’s office by calling 1-800-282-0515.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine; Lamont Pugh, III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Kevin R. Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati Field Office (FBI); Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Bret Flinn, Resident Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) announced the arrest.
Durrani owns a private practice called the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies (CAST) with offices in Evendale, Ohio and Florence, Kentucky.
The complaint charges Durrani with one count of health care fraud and one count of making false statements in health care matters. Health care fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The crime of making false statements in health care matters is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Durrani will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman in Cincinnati at 1:30 today.
Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by agents and officers of the agencies named above, along with the Ohio Medical Board and Kentucky Medical Board and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Mangan and Emily Glatfelter, who are representing the United States in the case.
Anyone suspecting health care fraud, waste, or abuse can report it by calling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General at 800-447-8477. To learn more about health care fraud prevention and enforcement go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. Ohioans can report suspected instances of health care fraud to Attorney General DeWine’s office by calling 1-800-282-0515.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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