April 10, 2013 | Posted By: Sean Estes
NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a doctor has been convicted of participating in a $77 million Medicare fraud scheme.
A jury in Brooklyn Monday convicted 50-year-old Dr. Gustave Drivas of Staten Island of health care fraud conspiracy and health care fraud following an eight-week trial. He was acquitted of kickback conspiracy.
Evidence showed that Bay Medical Care, for which Drivas was listed on bank paperwork as president, paid cash kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries and used beneficiaries’ names to bill Medicare for more than $77 million for fraudulent and unnecessary medical procedures.
Drivas was said to be a “no show” doctor whose Medicare billing number was used to bill more than $20 million to Medicare, of which more than $12 million was paid.
Sentencing is July 9. He faces 20 years in prison.
Four others have already pleaded guilty in the case.