Man sentenced in home-health fraud case

DETROIT (AP) — Federal authorities say an Ypsilanti man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for his role in a $33 million Medicare fraud scheme involving home health care.

The U.S. Department of Justice says Badar Ahmadani, 49, was sentenced to 96 months in prison Monday. He also was ordered to pay $38.2 million in restitution.

Prosecutors say Ahmadani and Zafar Mehmood found patients for Mehmood’s companies by paying cash kickbacks to recruiters.

The recruiters then gave cash to patients to convince them to sign up with Mehmood’s companies.

Authorities say the two also gave kickbacks to doctors to refer patients to their companies for unnecessary home health services.

Mehmood was sentenced in October to serve 30 years in prison and to pay $40.5 million in restitution.