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Government’s Opposition to Christopher Garnto’s Second Motion to Modify Supplemental Condition of Pretrial Release Concerning Employment in “Health Care Field” — United States v. Garnto (Dkt. 179, S.D. Fla.)
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The government's opposition to Christopher Garnto's second motion to modify a supplemental condition of pretrial release concerning employment in the health care field, filed April 5, 2021 in United States v. Christopher Garnto, Case No. 21-60020-CR-DIMITROULEAS/SNOW, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The government opposes the motion (D.E. 165), which seeks permission for Garnto to return to work in health care. It states that, as alleged in the Indictment and Complaint, Garnto was the key patient recruiter for Compass Detox and WAR, and recites the allegations about patient recruiting and insurance billing. A footnote states that the government does not intend to oppose a separate motion to sell property (D.E. 175). The opposition is signed by Senior Litigation Counsel James V. Hayes.
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Filed April 5, 2021 in Christopher Garnto; one of 12 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2021-04-05 |
Cite this document
“Government’s Opposition to Christopher Garnto’s Second Motion to Modify Supplemental Condition of Pretrial Release Concerning Employment in “Health Care Field” — United States v. Garnto (Dkt. 179, S.D. Fla.).”
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, No. 0:21-cr-60020, Doc. 179, filed 2021-04-05. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/court-filings/full-docket-jonathan-markovich-flsd-585151/2021-04-05-gov-uscourts-flsd-585151-179-0-doc-179/
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Case 0:21-cr-60020-WPD Document 179 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/05/2021 Page 1 of 12
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 21-60020-CR-DIMITROULEAS/SNOW
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CHRISTOPHER GARNTO,
Defendant.
___________________________________/
GOVERNMENT’S OPPOSITION TO CHRISTOPHER GARNTO’S SECOND MOTION
TO MODIFY SUPPLEMENTAL CONDITION OF PRETRIAL RELEASE
CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT IN “HEALTH CARE FIELD”
The United States of America, through counsel, hereby opposes defendant Christopher
Garnto’s (“Garnto”) Second Motion to Modify Supplemental Condition of Pretrial Release
Concerning Employment in “Health Care Field” [D.E. 165] (“Motion”).1 Garnto seeks permission
to return to work in the very industry in which, for the last three years, he allegedly took advantage
of patients with serious addictions, as well as private insurance plans, to make money for himself.
As alleged in the Indictment and Complaint, Garnto was the key patient recruiter for Compass
Detox and WAR. Garnto ensured that Compass Detox and WAR had a steady stream of patients
for which to bill private insurance companies. He did this, in part, by directing other patient
recruiters to help known drug addicts get high on illegal drugs or alcohol so that they would appear
qualified to attend detox, the most expensive level of care offered by Compass Detox. Once
admitted to Compass Detox, the defendants, including Garnto, engaged in a wide-ranging and
varied health care and wire fraud scheme described at length in the Complaint and Indictment. For
1
Garnto also filed a motion to permit him to sell certain property [D.E. 175] and the
Government does not intent to oppose that motion.
1
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example, patients often would be over-medicated to the point of sedation, including through the
overuse of controlled substances and a concoction known as a “comfort drink,” which was a bluish-
green liquid mixture of sedative medications about the size of a shot of alcohol. The Government
presented evidence at the preliminary hearing, which is also available in discovery, that Garnto,
who is not a medical professional, directed medical personnel to give patients additional
medication when they requested it. In addition, Garnto paid patients, helped arrange their flights
from all over the country to South Florida, and paid patient recruiters in order to ensure that patients
would enroll in and remain at Compass Detox, all of which are kickbacks prohibited by the
Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (“EKRA”). These kickbacks enabled the subsequent
fraudulent billing. Furthermore, Garnto owned a laboratory to which Compass Detox sent urine
samples for medically unnecessary urinalysis testing that was billed to private insurers, often for
thousands of dollars per test. In exchange for these referrals, Garnto’s lab paid co-defendant
Jonathan Markovich, an owner of Compass Detox, over $200,000 in kickbacks.
None of Garnto’s arguments in favor of modifying the employment restriction so that he
can return to work in the substance abuse treatment industry are availing. First, Garnto’s proposed
revisions to the restrictions on how he may be compensated for work in the health care field are
inconsistent with EKRA. Garnto is charged with an EKRA conspiracy and several substantive
EKRA kickback counts. In the context of substance abuse treatment and laboratory services
covered by private insurance plans, EKRA criminalizes payment arrangements based on the
volume of patient referrals. Yet, with no explanation, Garnto asks the Court to remove the current
restriction precluding him from being compensated based on the “volume of customers he refers,”
and, in its place, substitute a narrower restriction precluding compensation based on the “volume
2
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or value of any monies reimbursed” by an insurer. EKRA is not so narrow. The compensation
restriction should, at minimum, be as restrictive as the key criminal statute in this area.
Furthermore, Garnto’s other revisions to the employment restriction are likewise
untenable. As it stands, the employment restriction was already modified to permit certain
employment in the health care field. [D.E. 123.] Contrary to Garnto’s assertions that the restriction
is “Draconian” (Mot. at 1), the employment restriction is common in health care fraud cases and,
because of the prior modification agreed by the parties, is even more reasonable as applied to
Garnto.2 Even the doctors in this case (Dr. Santeiro and Dr. Lieberman), both of whom went to
school for many years to develop a specialized skill and obtain their licenses, have agreed not to
treat substance abuse patients. [D.E. 37, 79.] To get around this, Garnto simply asserts that the
only way he can earn a living is if he returns to the substance abuse treatment field. But he says
nothing about what he has tried to do to find work since he was terminated from his position at
Tobias & Associates, or whether he has even attempted to find work in another field. To be clear,
the Government takes no issue with Garnto working as a website developer generally while he is
awaiting trial, just as the Government takes no issue with certain other defendants practicing law.
But just as the lawyer defendants cannot become general counsel for a substance abuse treatment
center while under their current employment restriction, Garnto cannot become a website
developer or marketer for a substance abuse treatment provider.
Finally, Garnto represents that he will follow the law while employed for a substance abuse
treatment center, and the Government hopes he will, but the Court should take reasonable
2
Garnto’s trial will begin in roughly four months. The current employment restriction, as
modified by Judge Hunt with the parties’ agreement, is even more reasonable when viewed in light
of the prompt trial date set by the Court at Garnto’s request. Garnto should seek employment
outside the substance abuse industry while awaiting trial for the next four months. It is that simple.
3
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precautions to ensure that patients and private health plans are not put at further risk while Garnto
is released pending trial. That is the point of bond conditions. The conduct alleged against Garnto
was egregious and put patients at substantial risk of bodily harm. Private insurers were billed
nearly $112 million for services purportedly provided by Compass Detox, WAR, and related
providers, in part due to Garnto’s alleged conduct. Garnto’s representation that he will follow the
law if allowed to return to the substance abuse treatment field should be scrutinized in light of
these allegations and reasonable restrictions should remain in place to ensure no further violations
or harm to patients and victims.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. The Charges Against Garnto
The Indictment charges Garnto with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud
(Count 1), substantive health care fraud (Counts 2-9), conspiracy to violate EKRA (Count 10), and
substantive EKRA kickbacks (Counts 15-21). [D.E. 110.] While the Indictment alleges the
manner and means through which Garnto and his co-defendants carried out the conspiracies, as
well as particular examples of alleged fraudulent billings and alleged kickbacks, the criminal
Complaint [D.E.1] contains even more specific allegations concerning Garnto. In particular, some
of the allegations against Garnto detailed in the Complaint include:
Multiple witnesses described Garnto as the lead patient recruiter and indicated that
other patient recruiters, including co-defendant Mario Kustura, worked under Garnto.
Multiple patients described being paid by Garnto, through Kustura or other patient
recruiters.
Patient 1 was paid to attend Compass Detox by co-defendant Mario Kustura, who
obtained the money from Garnto. Patient 1 overdosed (and survived) on heroin
provided by Kustura.
Kustura arranged for Patient 2 and another patient to fly from California to South
Florida to attend treatment at Compass Detox. Co-defendant D. Markovich paid for
the flights and Garnto arranged the ride-share to the airport in California. Kustura sent
4
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the patients, a known addict, money so that they could buy alcohol before coming to
Compass Detox.
Garnto and D. Markovich arranged flights for Patient 5 from New York to Florida to
attend Compass Detox. Garnto also told Patient 5 and another Compass Detox patient
that they had to have “dirty” urine before they could come back to Compass Detox, and
Garnto provided the money to accomplish this.
Patient 20 and another patient were instructed by Garnto that they could not return to
Compass Detox for treatment if they were “clean.” Garnto would send someone to
pick them up and purchase heroin or alcohol for them to get high before returning to
Compass Detox.
Confidential Witness 1, a former nursing employee of Compass Detox, indicated that
Garnto would direct Dr. Lieberman to order nursing staff to give patients additional
medication.
Confidential Witness 4, a former Compass Detox employee, indicated that Garnto and
D. Markovich—neither of whom are medical professionals—decided how long
patients would stay at Compass Detox, and that this was based on the quality of a
patient’s insurance.
Garnto, among other defendants, endorsed the practice of patient recycling whereby
patients who relapsed at WAR (an outpatient center that provided lower levels of care)
would end up back at Compass Detox (an inpatient center that provided higher and
more expensive levels of care).
Cooperating Defendant 1 stated that Garnto told Cooperating Defendant 1, who owned
a lab, that other labs offered to pay Compass Detox in exchange for urinalysis referrals.
As alleged in the Complaint, Garnto’s lab paid co-defendant Jonathan Markovich
approximately $217,907.
The Complaint summarizes the preliminary opinion of the Government’s medical
expert regarding excessive and medically unnecessary urinalysis testing at Compass
Detox and WAR, which was referred to outside laboratories (including Garnto’s lab).
In addition, the Complaint provides an example where patient files and billing records
demonstrate that an expensive urinalysis billed by Garnto’s lab was medically
unnecessary.
B. The Employment Restriction
Garnto made his initial appearance on September 28, 2020 before Judge Hunt, who
imposed as a condition of bond a restriction from working in the health care or addiction treatment
5
Case 0:21-cr-60020-WPD Document 179 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/05/2021 Page 6 of 12
fields. [D.E. 22.] Subsequently, the parties agreed to a modification of this restriction so that
Garnto could work as a customer service representative for a company that assists individuals in
signing up for health insurance plans. [D.E. 123.] Specifically, the parties agreed, and Judge Hunt
adopted, the following modified employment restriction:
Mr. Garnto is restricted from working in the health care field, except that he may
work for a call center that connects customers to potential health care insurance
plans to the extent that Mr. Garnto is not (a) compensated based on the volume of
customers he refers to such health care insurance plans; (b) directly or indirectly
involved in the submission, processing or adjudication of claims for services that
may be reimbursable under a federal, state, or private health care plan; or (c)
involved in the marketing of any specific health care provider or any specific health
care service, good, or medication.
Notably, these modifications still preclude Garnto from directly working in the health care
field, particularly for any substance abuse treatment center, and from being paid based on the
volume of patients he refers. Now, Garnto proposes two further modifications: (1) to work directly
for unidentified substance abuse treatment centers as a website designer and marketer; and (2) to
delete the restriction on compensation based on referrals (so long as he is not compensated based
on the amount reimbursed by insurance). As described below, EKRA prohibits certain volume-
based compensation arrangements, including certain per-patient or per-referral compensation.
While Garnto does not detail how he is to be compensated or why he proposes this change, his
proposed narrowing of the compensation restriction is simply inconsistent with EKRA.
C. EKRA
EKRA was enacted in October 2018 and prohibits kickback arrangements with respect to
services covered by a health care benefit program, including private health insurance plans such
as those at issue in this case. Title 18, United States Code, Section 220 provides:
Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever, with respect to services covered by
a health care benefit program, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce,
knowingly and willfully-
6
Case 0:21-cr-60020-WPD Document 179 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/05/2021 Page 7 of 12
(1) solicits or receives any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate)
directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, in return for
referring a patient or patronage to a recovery home, clinical treatment facility,
or laboratory; or
(2) pays or offers any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate)
directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind-
(A) to induce a referral of an individual to a recovery home, clinical treatment
facility or laboratory; or
(B) in exchange for an individual using the service of that recovery home,
clinical treatment facility, or laboratory.
ARGUMENT
I. GARNTO’S PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE COMPENSATION
RESTRICTION ARE INCONSISTENT WITH EKRA.
Garnto proposes to revise the compensation restriction so that it no longer prohibits
compensation based on the volume of customers he refers, but only prohibits compensation based
on the value of insurance reimbursements. Mot. at 2. Charitably put, this revision is half-baked.
Garnto provides no explanation for why any revisions to the compensation restriction would be
necessary so that he can work as a website developer. This requested change is even more
befuddling considering Garnto’s statement that he will not be compensated based on the volume
of customers referred. See Mot. at 4. Thus, it is unclear why this change is even being proposed.
Without further explanation, the Government is constrained to oppose this proposed revision as
inconsistent with EKRA, which expressly precludes payments for volume-based referral
arrangements in the context of substance abuse treatment services covered by private insurance
plans. See 18 U.S.C. § 220.
7
Case 0:21-cr-60020-WPD Document 179 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/05/2021 Page 8 of 12
II. GARNTO’S REVISIONS TO THE EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTION
NEEDLESSLY PUT PATIENTS AND PRIVATE INSURERS AT RISK OF
FURTHER HARM.
Garnto also proposes that the employment restrictions be modified to allow him to “market,
develop, or manage websites on behalf of health care organizations,” including substance abuse
treatment centers. Mot. at 2, 5.3 Garnto offers three primary arguments in support of his requested
modifications, each of which should be rejected. First, he argues that the restrictions are
“Draconian,” particularly when compared to restrictions on his co-defendants who are attorneys
and doctors. Second, he argues that he has worked in the substance abuse treatment industry his
entire life, implying that he cannot work in any other industry. Third, he argues that he is required
to follow the law, so that alone suffices to ensure he will conform his behavior going forward.
Garnto’s arguments in support of this modification are unavailing and his proposed modifications
would needlessly put patients at further risk of harm and private insurers at further risk of loss.
None of these arguments justify further modifying the employment restrictions set by Judge Hunt.
As an initial matter, a restriction from working in the health care field is common in health
care fraud cases where defendants are released on bond pending trial. This is particularly true in
addiction treatment fraud cases, where the potential for patient harm is especially acute. See, e.g.,
United States v. Ligotti, 20-mj-08265, [D.E. 17] (S.D. Fla. Aug. 3, 2020) (Judge Brannon imposed
restriction on medical director from working in addiction field); United States v. Sanford, 19-cr-
20583, [D.E. 20, 23] (S.D. Fla. Sept. 17, 2019) (Judge McAliley imposed restriction from working
3
Garnto states that he already developed the websites, but does not state when he did so or
at whose direction. See Mot. at 5 (noting that Garnto “can provide Pre-Trial Services with the
names of any of the health care providers whose sites he has developed”) (emphasis added). The
Government has no information indicating that Garnto developed the websites while subject to the
bond conditions entered by Judge Hunt, but notes that doing so could be a violation of his current
bond conditions.
8
Case 0:21-cr-60020-WPD Document 179 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/05/2021 Page 9 of 12
in health care field on alleged patient broker for addiction treatment center and owner of addiction
treatment center); United States v. Dublynn, 19-cr-20583, [D.E. 42, 53] (S.D. Fla. Sept. 27, 2019)
(Judge Goodman and Judge McAliley imposed restriction from working in health care field on
alleged operator of addiction treatment center); United States v. Hernandez, 20-mj-03663, [D.E.
9] (S.D. Fla. Sept. 29, 2020) (Judge Goodman imposed restriction from working in addiction
treatment field on alleged medical director of addiction treatment center); United States v. Curran,
18-80124, [D.E. 37] (S.D. Fla. July 2, 2018) (Judge Reinhart imposed restriction on working in
health care or health care billing on alleged marketer and employee of addiction treatment center).4
Garnto’s argument that such a restriction is overly “Draconian” is simply contrary to the
common practices and experiences of numerous other defendants in this district, many of whom
are simply accused of fraudulent billing and not, as Garnto is, conduct that inherently jeopardizes
patient safety, and the ability of persons facing drug addiction to recover. In this regard, the cases
Garnto cites in support of his request to work directly for one or more substance abuse treatment
centers are inapposite.5 Here, Garnto is alleged not only to have enabled fraudulent billing, but
4
Even in other types of health care fraud matters, courts in this district have imposed similar
restrictions from working in the health care field. See, e.g., United States v. Garipoli, 19-cr-80196,
D.E. 14 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 4, 2019) (Judge Reinhart imposed restriction from working in health care
industry on owner of telemedicine company that allegedly sold doctors’ orders for medically
unnecessary cancer genetic testing in exchange for kickbacks to laboratories, who billed
Medicare); United States v. Patel, 19-80181, D.E. 14 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 30, 2019) (Judge
Matthewman imposed restriction from working in health care field on laboratory owner that
allegedly bought doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary cancer genetic testing in exchange for
kickbacks from marketers and fraudulently billed Medicare).
5
For example, in United States v. Mayrelis Lopez, 17-cr-20810-CMA (S.D. Fla.),
Information, D.E. 1, there was no allegation of patient harm. To the contrary, the defendant
pharmacy owner allegedly paid kickbacks to beneficiaries in order to use their Medicare number
to bill for medications that were never dispensed. The defendant there was charged by
Information, pled guilty, and cooperated with the Government. In any event, the defendant was
allowed to work at an assisted living facility, while her charges pertained to a completely different
medical field (a pharmacy). In United States v. Thomas Sahs, 18-cr-20710-CMA (S.D. Fla.),
9
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also to have directed patient recruiters to provide illicit drugs or alcohol to known addicts to ensure
that they would appear eligible for expensive detox services. As someone who has himself
struggled with addiction (Mot. at 5), Garnto knew perhaps better than anyone how dangerous this
practice was, yet allegedly did it anyway.
Garnto next attempts to argue that the employment restriction is even more unfair to him
than it is to his co-defendants. There is no defendant in this case who is permitted to work in the
substance abuse treatment field pending trial, period. Contrary to Garnto’s strained analogy, while
the lawyer defendants can continue to practice real estate law, they cannot become general counsel
to a substance abuse treatment center. Likewise, while the doctor defendants may practice
medicine, they may not provide addiction treatment. And unlike the doctors, who went to school
for many years and have secured specialized licenses to practice medicine, Garnto makes no
representation of his licensing or specialized education or experience in web design. Garnto is
free to work as a web designer, but he cannot work directly for a health care provider, especially
a substance abuse treatment center.
This raises an even more fundamental problem with Garnto’s request. Garnto implies that
the only way he can earn a living is by working in the substance abuse industry. Yet he is silent
about whether he has even attempted to find work as a web designer for other types of businesses,
much less work in a completely different field, such as the service industry or another customer
service position besides Tobias & Associates. In any event, his trial is merely four months away.
Sentencing Memo, D.E. 378, the defendant (who also cooperated and pled guilty) worked for a
medical device sales company with which Mr. Feldman represented there were no associations to
“state, private, or federal health care programs.” Garnto cannot make the same representation here
with respect to his proposed employment.
10
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However challenging Garnto finds this employment restriction, it will be moot one way or another
in four months.
Garnto’s final argument in support of his proposed modifications to the employment
condition is that he will not violate the law because that could result in revocation of his bond.
(Mot. at 5.) Of course Garnto is required to follow the law, just as everyone else is and just as he
was for the three years that the grand jury alleges he conspired to commit health care fraud and
several other crimes. The Government has presented probable cause—in a Complaint signed by
Judge Hunt, at a preliminary hearing presided over by Judge Valle, and to a grand jury which
returned an Indictment—that Garnto engaged in numerous violations of law. While Garnto is
released, the Court should take reasonable precautions to ensure that patients seeking recovery are
not put at further risk of harm by Garnto and that private insurance plans are not put at further risk
of loss.6 Restricting Garnto from working in the health care field, combined with the other
conditions of bond, is the least restrictive condition that will reasonably assure the “safety of any
6
In addition, as a practical matter, it is well-known that patients are often shuffled from
treatment center to treatment center in South Florida. In fact, the Indictment alleges that
conspirators, including Garnto, participated in the recycling of patients both within Compass
Detox and WAR, but also with outside treatment facilities. See Indictment, Count 1, Manner and
Means, ¶ 17. Evidence pertaining to this allegation is available in the discovery produced by the
Government and is subject to the Protective Order. It is difficult to imagine a scenario where
Garnto works for a substance abuse treatment center in South Florida and does not come into
contact with, or learn information about, individuals who were once patients of Compass Detox or
WAR. Garnto does not even contemplate this risk, nor discuss how this should be dealt with,
particularly in light of the no-contact order prohibiting contact with Compass Detox or WAR
patients. Furthermore, the Government is engaged in investigations of other treatment centers in
South Florida. Some of these investigations remain covert. Needless to say, Garnto should not be
associated with treatment centers that are under investigation for conduct similar to that in which
Garnto previously engaged. Under Garnto’s proposal, however, short of disclosing his
employment to Pre-Trial Services (which he would be required to do anyway), Garnto offers no
discussion of how the Government can ensure that Garnto does not become affiliated with
treatment centers under investigation.
11
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other person and the community,” i.e., substance abuse patients and private insurers. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3142(c)(1)(B).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Garnto’s Motion should be denied.
Dated: April 5, 2021 Respectfully submitted,
JUAN ANTONIO GONZALEZ
ACTING UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
DANIEL KAHN, ACTING CHIEF
CRIMINAL DIVISION, FRAUD SECTION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
By: /s/ James V. Hayes____________________
JAMES V. HAYES (FL Bar #A5501717)
Senior Litigation Counsel
JAMIE DE BOER (FL Bar #A5502601)
Trial Attorney
United States Department of Justice,
Criminal Division, Fraud Section
1400 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: (202) 774-4276
James.Hayes@usdoj.gov
Jamie.deBoer@usdoj.gov
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on April 5, 2021, I electronically filed the foregoing document
with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF.
/s/ James V. Hayes
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