Thaindian News

HOUSTON, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) – A Nigerian national, resident of Texas pleaded guilty on Monday to health care fraud, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Mento Nnana Kaluanya, 50, falsely and fraudulently submitted claims to Medicare for equipment through a false store he solely owned, HyCentral Medical Supplies and Equipment (Hycentral).

Kaluanya set up his fake durable medical equipment company in Derry, New Hampshire, and later claimed Medicare for equipment that was not ordered nor prescribed by treating physicians, that was not medically necessary, was not delivered to some Medicare beneficiaries nor wanted by some Medicare beneficiaries.

Kaluanya purchased Medicare beneficiary numbers and patient documentation and, in return for a portion of the fraudulent proceeds, he allowed other individuals to bill Medicare under HyCentral’s Medicare provider number.

He additionally forged at least 12 signatures of Houston area physicians in order to submit false claims, using the Universal Provider Identification Number and National Provider Identification Number. Investigations later revealed that HyCentral did not have any of the required Medicare documentation for claims filed on behalf of approximately 300 Medicare beneficiaries.

Between May 1, 2006, and Dec. 11, 2008, HyCentral billed Medicare for approximately $3.9 million and was paid approximately $1.6 million.

On Monday, Kaluanya admitted to engaging in health care fraud and aggravated identity theft in the Southern District of Texas before Judge Nancy Atlas. He is now facing a maximum prison term of 12 years, a fine of up to $500,000 and up to four-year-term of supervised release for both counts of fraud and theft.