Seven individuals stand accused of orchestrating a complex scheme defrauding Medicare and Medicaid for over $40 million, as announced by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the alleged fraud involved purported marketing companies receiving kickbacks for referrals to genetic testing labs that were deemed unnecessary and not clinically indicated.
Among the accused are Ronald King, formerly of Berlin, New Hampshire, now residing in Bangor, Maine, Victor Roiter of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Tina Wellman of Mayfield, New York, Adam Shorr of Dunedin, Florida, Robert O’Sullivan of Lake Sherwood, California, Bradley Edson of Mesa, Arizona, and John Gautereaux of Temecula, California. Federal prosecutors allege these individuals used their corporate entities, including Tesis Labs, LLC and its subsidiaries Claro Scientific Laboratories, Inc., and 303 Diagnostics LLC, to facilitate their illicit scheme.
According to the indictment, King, Roiter, and Wellman were accused of not only paying kickbacks but also conspiring to launder the proceeds of their operations. Authorities say that the fraud involved targeting elderly Medicare beneficiaries, particularly through call centers, and manipulating physicians'signatures to generate false testing orders. The defendants, through their elaborate schemes, ultimately extracted millions from taxpayer-funded health care programs.
The case, which highlights a recurring issue with health care fraud, is under investigation by multiple agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Denver Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. The prosecution falls upon the shoulders of Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Edgar. The defendants made their initial court appearances in Denver, Colorado, spanning from August 26 to September 5, as informed by presiding Magistrate Judge Susan Prose.
