An Indo-American physician in the US has beenslapped with multiple charges of committinghealthcare fraud and unlawfully distributing controlledsubstances, facing up to 30 years in prisonif convicted. Each of the 30 health fraud countscarries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonmentand a fine of $250,000. Each of the 15 countsof drug distribution carries a maximum penalty of20 years’ imprisonment with a fine of $1 million.
NEW YORK – An Indo-Americanphysician in the US has been slapped withmultiple charges of committing healthcarefraud and unlawfully distributing controlledsubstances, facing up to 30 years inprison if convicted.Mahesh Kuthuru 43, who owned andoperated a medical practice, was indictedby a federal grand jury in Syracuse, NewYork.The indictment charges Kuthuru andhis employee Bonnie Meislin, 42, with engagingin a scheme to defraud Medicare bysubmitting claims for reimbursement thatfalsely represented that Kuthuru had performedmedical services when in fact hehad not, US Attorney Richard Hartuniansaid in a statement.Kuthuru was arrested in Las Vegaslast month and is scheduled to appear forarraignment before US Magistrate JudgeTherese Wiley Dancks in Syracuse onMarch 12.Each of the 30 health fraud countscarries a maximum penalty of 10 years’imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.Each of the 15 counts of drug distributioncarries a maximum penalty of 20years’ imprisonment with a fine of $1 million.According to the indictment, Kuthurupurchased a medical practice in Las Vegasin November 2008.By January, 2010, through to September,2011, Kuthuru was spending the majorityof his time at his Las Vegas medicalpractice, coming back to his New York officesto treat patients only on a sporadicbasis.The indictment further charges thatfrom January, 2010, through to September,2011, there were substantial periodsof time when there were no licensed medicalpersonnel in the New York offices.Patients there were seen only by unlicensedstaff members who had receivedno formal medical training.Kuthuru is also charged with illegallydistributing controlled substances includingoxycodone, methadone and morphinesulphate.
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