THOMSON, Ga. — The owner of a Thomson medical equipment company was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison this week for a wide-ranging Medicare fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Detra Wiley Pate, owner and CEO of Southern Respiratory LLC, will spend 121 months in federal prison for multiple counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
According to court documents, Pate used the money she stole from Medicare through this fraud to pay for such things as jewelry, including a 1.5 carat diamond and a Rolex watch.
Christine said Pate "got greedy" and charged Medicare for expensive equipment patients neither needed nor received, using prescriptions doctors had not written.
Authorities said she "submitted thousands of false claims, fabricated patient files, and falsified prescriptions from doctors for items such as heavy-duty wheelchairs while providing much cheaper standard wheelchairs to patients – and pocketing the substantial difference in cost."
“The FBI and our federal law enforcement partners are determined to prosecute anyone who chooses to profit personally at the expense of those who count on federal healthcare programs for their deserved benefit and the taxpayers of this country,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is an example of that determination and our commitment to protect our citizens and uphold the Constitution.”
She was also ordered to pay $950,000 in restitution, and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
MORE HEADLINES:
