Arkansas Man Charged in $100 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud Scheme
Summary
A Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs press release dated Wednesday, November 3, 2021, announcing that a federal grand jury in the Western District of Arkansas indicted Billy Joe Taylor, 42, of Lavaca, an owner or manager of numerous diagnostic testing laboratories, on health care fraud charges over more than $100 million in false billings for urine drug testing, COVID-19 testing and other laboratory services. According to the charging documents, between February 2017 and May 2021 the tests were medically unnecessary, not ordered by medical providers or not provided as represented. The release, number 21-1083, notes that an indictment is merely an allegation.
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Press Release Arkansas Man Charged in $100 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud Scheme Wednesday, November 3, 2021 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A federal grand jury in the Western District of Arkansas returned an indictment yesterday charging an Arkansas man who owned or managed numerous diagnostic testing laboratories with health care fraud in connection with over $100 million dollars in false billings for urine drug testing, COVID-19 testing, and other clinical laboratory services. According to court documents, Billy Joe Taylor, 42, of Lavaca, engaged in a scheme between February 2017 and May 2021 in connection with diagnostic laboratory testing, including urine drug testing and tests for respiratory illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, that were medically unnecessary, not ordered by medical providers, and/or not provided as represented. According to the indictment, Taylor controlled and directed multiple diagnostic laboratories, and used those labs to submit more than $100 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. The indictment alleges that Taylor obtained medical information and private personal information for Medicare beneficiaries, and then misused that confidential information to repeatedly submit claims to Medicare for diagnostic tests that were not ordered by medical providers and were not actually performed by the laboratories. Taylor allegedly then used the proceeds of the fraud to live a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing numerous luxury automobiles, including a Rolls Royce Wraith, as well as real estate, jewelry, guitars, and other luxury clothing and items. Taylor is charged with 16 counts of health care fraud, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally-derived property. Taylor was previously charged by criminal complaint in May 2021. The defendant is scheduled for his arraignment on Nov. 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark E. Ford of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Each of the counts is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas; Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson, of the FBI’s Little Rock division; Special Agent in Charge Miranda Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Dallas Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office, made the announcement. The FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Jim Hayes and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section’s National Rapid Response Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Updated February 6, 2025 Attachment Indictment - Billy Joe Taylor.pdf [PDF, ] Topics Coronavirus Health Care Fraud Components Criminal Division Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section USAO - Arkansas, Western Press Release Number: 21-1083 Related Content Press Release Louisiana Doctor Sentenced for Illegally Distributing Over 1.8M Doses of Opioids in $5.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme A Louisiana physician was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine... February 6, 2025 Press Release Four Pharmacists Sentenced for Roles in $13M Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Insurer Fraud Conspiracy Four pharmacy owners have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. February 6, 2025 Press Release Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with $17M Medicare Hospice Fraud and Home Health Care Fraud Schemes A California man pleaded guilty today to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million... February 3, 2025
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