Community Corner

2 Macomb Residents Charged in Alleged Health Care Fraud

Macomb podiatrist Anmy Tran, 40, and patient recruiter LaVar Carter, 34, are among 26 individuals charged in a federal grand jury's 34-count indictment.

A federal grand jury in Detroit has charged 26 individuals, including two Macomb residents, for their participation in an alleged large-scale health care fraud and drug distribution scheme, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade reported today.

The 34-count indictment, which was unsealed today, alleges that Canton pharmacist Babubhai "Bob" Patel, 49, was the beneficial owner and controller of some 26 pharmacies statewide.

Patel allegedly concealed his ownership and control over many of the pharmacies and through kickbacks and bribes to physicians, induced those physicians to write prescriptions for patients with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. Those prescriptions were then directed to one of his pharmacies for billing. Patients were also recruited into the scheme by patient recruiters, who would pay kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the patients' allowing the pharmacies and the associated physicians to bill their insurance for medications and services that were medically unnecessary and/or never provided.

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The Macomb residents cited in the indictment are podiatrist Anmy Tran, 40, and patient recruiter LaVar Carter, 34.

“Health care fraud and the abuse/diversion of prescription medications are increasing criminal threats to the United States,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena, in a release. “Dishonest health care providers involved in fraudulent activities frequently exploit Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billing schemes which abuse tax payer's dollars. The FBI remains committed to investigating this type of fraud and bringing these individuals to justice.”

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The investigation of this case was handled by the Drug Enforcement Agency, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

"Confronting the illegal diversion and abuse of controlled pharmaceuticals is a top priority of DEA and our law enforcement partners,” said Robert L. Corso, Special Agent in Charge of DEA's Detroit Field Division, in a release. “The allegations against these 26 individuals, particularly of the medical professionals, are significant. These individuals abused their positions of trust and endangered the lives of countless people by illegally distributing more than 6 million doses of opiate painkillers and depressants throughout southeast Michigan and beyond.”

In addition to Babubhai Patel, Tran and Carter, those named in the 34‑count indictment were physician Paul Petre, 43, of Rochester Hills; pharmacist Dineshkmar Patel, 33, of Canton; pharmacist Anish Bhavsar, 35, of Canton; pharmacist Ashwini Sharma, 33, of Novi; pharmacist Pinakeen Patel, 32, of Sterling Heights; pharmacist Kartik Shah, 34, of Canton, pharmacist Viral Thaker, 30, of Findlay, Ohio; pharmacist Hiren Patel, 31, of Novi; pharmacist Miteshkumar Patel, 37, of Troy; pharmacist Lokeh Tayal, 35, of Canton; pharmacist Narendera Cheraku, 33, of Farmington Hills; accountant Chetan Gujarathi, 38, of Canton; business associate Arpitkumar Patel, 26, of Romulus; business associate Sumanray Raval, 54, of Farmington Hills; business associate Harpreet Sachdeva, 38, of Canton; business associate Ramesh Patel, 50, of Canton; business associate Rana Naeem, 60, of Rochester Hills; physician Mark Greenbain, 69, of Farmington Hills; physician Mustak Vaid, 38, of Brownstown Township; psychologist and patient recruiter Sanyani Edwards, 32, of Ferndale; business associate Komal Acharya, 27, of Farmington Hills; and patient recruiter Leodis Elliott, 41, of West Bloomfield.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant in the case is entitled to a fair trial where it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John K. Neal and Wayne F. Pratt.

For more information on the indictment, visit the DEA website.


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