Woman in Medicare fraud sentenced to 4 years in prison

DETROIT (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department says the co-owner of a Detroit-area physical therapy company has been sentenced to four years in prison for her role in a $1.9 million Medicare fraud scheme.

The department said last Thursday that 44-year-old Fatima Hassan also will have to make $855,000 in restitution under the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn in Detroit.

Hassan pleaded guilty last September to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The government says Hassan incorporated a company known as Jos Campau Physical Therapy in 2005.

According to the charges, Hassan paid kickbacks to recruiters who got Medicare beneficiary information and signatures needed to create fake physical and occupational therapy files.

Co-defendant Victor Jayasundera pleaded guilty in January and faces sentencing May 31.

Published: Mon, May 21, 2012