/>iPennsylvania Medical Supply Company Agrees to $5 Million Settlement
A Pennsylvania medical supply company, AdaptHealth LLC, formerly known as QMES LLC, agreed to a $5.3 million settlement to resolve allegations that it had violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare and Medicaid for expensive breathing equipment that was not prescribed to patients. The government also alleges that AdaptHealth continued billing the federal programs for the equipment after patients were no longer using them and double-billed for ventilator rentals.
The action against AdaptHealth began with a whistleblower’s complaint from a former employee, who alleged that, from 2013 to 2017, the company billed federal programs for non-invasive ventilators, when patients were actually prescribed less expensive bilevel positive airway pressure, or BiPAP, machines. The whistleblower will receive $985,000 of the settlement proceeds as the relator.
A copy of the settlement agreement can be found here.
Two Individuals Sentenced to Prison for Caltrans Bid-Rigging Scheme
Two individuals were sentenced for their alleged roles in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving improvements and repair contracts for the California Department of Transportation. Choon Foo “Keith” Yong, a former Caltrans contract manager, was sentenced to 49 months in prison and ordered to pay over $984,000 in restitution. William Opp, a former contractor, was sentenced to 45 months in prison and ordered to pay about $800,000 in restitution.
According to the government, between 2015 and 2019, Yong conspired to ensure that companies controlled by his co-conspirators would be awarded Caltrans contracts. The government claims that Yong also accepted bribes while still employed by Caltrans in the form of cash, wine, and home renovations. In total, Yong allegedly received about $1 million in benefits. Opp is alleged to have formed a construction company to submit sham bids on Caltrans contracts. The government claims he and other co-conspirators provided nearly $800,000 worth of bribes and other benefits to Yong.
Yong and Opp are the latest individuals to be sentenced in connection with this conspiracy. On April 17, 2023, former construction company owner Bill Miller was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution.
A copy of the DOJ press release can be found here.
Three Individuals Sentenced for Orchestrating PAC Contribution Scheme
Three individuals — Matthew Nelson Turnstall, Robert Reyes Jr., and Kyle George Davies—were sentenced for their alleged roles in orchestrating a scheme to solicit contributions to two political action committees (PACs) based on false representations that the funds would be used to support presidential candidates during and after the 2016 election cycle. The government alleges that the three individuals actually used the funds for personal expenses and to fund additional fraudulent solicitations. Turnstall and Reyes are also alleged to have attempted to conceal the origin of the proceeds by instructing a third-party vendor to withdraw funds in excess of services rendered, and then deposit the excess funds into shell companies that they controlled.
Turnstall, Reyes, and Davies all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to cause false statements to the Federal Election Commission, and Turnstall and Reyes each pleaded guilty to an additional count of money laundering. Turnstall and Reyes were sentenced to ten years and seven years imprisonment, respectively, and Davies was sentenced to five years probation.
