Archive

Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Settle Allegations of Unnecessary Vein Procedures

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team  On March 12, an Arizona-based physician group Tri-City Cardiology, P.C. and three physicians agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein procedures. [1]

What Does the Civil Settlement Address?

The civil settlement resolves claims that from January 1, 2017, through April 27, 2022,...

Former NFL Player Turned Lab Owner Convicted in $328 Million Genetic Testing Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team  In February, a federal jury in Texas convicted lab owner Keith J. Gray, a former NFL player, for his role in a $328 million genetic testing fraud scheme involving two clinical labs he owned and operated: Axis Professional Labs LLC (Axis) and Kingdom Health Laboratory LLC (Kingdom).[1] The jury found Gray guilty of (1) conspiracy to defraud the United States and to...

Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Pays $4.75M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical Testing Services

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team To resolve allegations of kickbacks and medically unnecessary services, Georgia-based Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates agreed to pay a False Claims Act settlement of $4.75 million.[1]

The Alleged Scheme: Unnecessary Medical Testing and Lab Services Kickbacks

According to the United States, starting around May 2017, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates contracted...

Top 10 Healthcare-Related False Claims Act Recoveries in 2025

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last year was a record year for False Claims Act recoveries.  As the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported in its 2025 False Claims Act Roundup, the $6.9 billion the Government recovered in 2025 was the most for any single year under the statute. Unsurprisingly, more than 80% of this amount (or $5.7 billion) came from matters involving healthcare-related fraud.  It...

Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Medicare Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 22, a federal jury convicted Florida-based nursing assistant and durable medical equipment (DME) supplier owner Christian “Chris” Cruz for his role in an $11.4 million healthcare fraud and wire fraud conspiracy.[1]

What Was the Alleged Scheme?

According to prosecutors, Cruz  submitted false claims for hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries and they were...

Two Plead Guilty to $68M Brooklyn Adult Day Care and Home Healthcare Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 15, Elaine Antao and Manal Wasef pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Medicaid by offering kickbacks for services not rendered at two Brooklyn social adult day cares and a home healthcare company. The proceedings took place before United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle in federal court in Brooklyn. Each defendant faces up to 10 years in...

Whistleblower-Initiated Case: DOJ Files FCA Complaint Against Priority Hospital Group and Three LTCHs

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 16, the government filed a False Claims Act complaint against Priority Hospital Group LLC (PHG), a Louisiana-based hospital management company, three PHG-managed long term care hospitals, and a doctor alleging they submitted false claims for medically unnecessary care and engaged in improper patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback and Stark Law.

Traditions Health Pays $34M to Settle False Claims Act Charges of Medically Unnecessary Home Health Services

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last Thursday (January 22), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Tennessee-based Traditions Health agreed to pay $34 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary home health services and paying kickbacks to physicians in exchange for referrals.[1] ...

Florida Ophthalmology Practices Agree to Pay Nearly $6M in Whistleblower Case Involving Transcranial Doppler Ultrasounds

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Five Florida ophthalmology practices, Clay Eye Holdings LLC, Retina Macula Specialists of Miami LLC, Florida Eye Institute P.A., Miami Eye LLC, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc., agreed to pay roughly $6 million to settle allegations that they submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid in violation of the False Claims Act. [1] According to the government, the...

Healthcare Employees Sentenced to Prison for Multimillion Dollar Adult Daycare Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team A Texas physician and a clinic employee have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a multimillion dollar healthcare fraud and kickback scheme involving unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions. Dr. Osama Nahas, owner and physician at Crosspoint Medical Clinic, and medical assistant Isabel Pruneda were convicted on March 1, 2024 by a federal jury of conspiracy to...