Kansas Doctor Charged in Deadly Prescription Drug...(TH CARE FRAUD According to the indict...),Health

According to the indictment, Schneider's clinic received more than $4.24 million in payments from health care benefit programs including Medicaid; Medicaid's HMO, First Guard; Medicare; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas; and Preferred Health Systems.

Schneider submitted false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs, the indictment says, including:

-- Claims for a provider seeing patients on days when the provider was not present at the clinic.

-- Claims for prescribing medications that were not provided for legitimate medical purposes.

-- Claims that were "upcoded" to make it appear a physician had seen a patient when in fact an assistant saw the patient.

-- Claims for laboratory services that the clinic did not provide.

ILLEGAL MONETARY TRANSACTIONS, MONEY LAUNDERING

Seventeen counts of the indictment focus on the proceeds of the alleged crimes. In transactions involving $50,000 to $130,000, the Schneiders are alleged to have moved money among accounts at Valley State Bank, the Credit Union of America, Intrust Bank, Bancomer Bank in Acapulco, Mexico; Union Bank of California; and various individuals including themselves, Sara Levin de Gonzalez and Lee Atterbury.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of all proceeds from the crimes. Real and personal property listed in the forfeiture count includes 7030 S. Broadway, 224 W. 79th South in Haysville, Kan.; bank accounts at Valley State Bank, Bank of America, the Credit Union of America and Bancomer Bank of Acapulco, Mexico; a 2004 Hummer H2, a 1978 Ford Mustang, a 2002 Nissan Frontier, a 1971 Ford Mustang, a 1995 GMC Jimmy, and two boats.

If convicted, the Schneiders face the following penalties:

-- Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

-- Illegal distribution of controlled substances: If death or serious bodily injury occur, not less than 20 y
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