Nigerian-Americans Dr. Megwa, Eghobor, Ikhile, Adenuga, Sorunke charged for $13 million U.S healthcare fraud

Nigerian-Americans Dr. Megwa, Eghobor, Ikhile, Adenuga, Sorunke charged for more than $13 million in U.S healthcare fraud; part of a federal strike force push.

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USAfricaonline.com: An anti-crime federal strike force in the United States has charged 91 people, including

doctors and nurses, in seven cities with Medicare fraud schemes involving $429 million in false billings.

The law enforcement effort targeted fraudulent Medicare schemes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Brooklyn, New York; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Los Angeles and Miami.

At a news conference on Thursday October 4, 2012, Attorney General Eric Holder said the case reveals an alarming trend of criminal attempts to steal billions of taxpayer dollars for personal gain. He assessed Thursday’s action against Medicare fraud one of the largest of its kind. He noted that “Charges against these defendants include health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. These charges are based on a variety of allegedly fraudulent activities involving treatments and services that were either medically unnecessary or, in some cases, never actually rendered – ranging from home health care and mental health services, to psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment services, and the largest ambulance fraud scheme ever prosecuted by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.”

Department of Justice spokeswoman Kathy Colvin said one Medicare provider in Arlington filed millions of dollars in fraudulent claims since 2006. The Nigerian-American Dr. Joseph Megwa, 58, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three other counts of health care fraud.
In a release, Colvin said Megwa, who operated Raphem Medical Practice (in Arlington, Texas suburb of Dallas), used home health certifications to bill Medicare for services that weren’t medically necessary. He signed 33,000 prescriptions without reviewing them between 2006 and 2011, Colvin said.
Megwa is accused of billing $10 million to Medicare for “unnecessary home visits and unnecessary medical services.” 

Registered nurses Ferguson Ikhile and Ebolose Eghobor were also charged. They worked at PTM Healthcare Services. About 25 percent of their patients used services provided by Megwa. An indictment says Megwa certified $4.8 million in claims from PTM. 
Arlington residents Pamela Adenuga, 38, and her husband Kahinde Adenuga, 45, were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and other counts of health care fraud. They owned a durable medical equipment company and are accused of charging fake claims to Medicare since Nov. 2007. 
Rowlett resident Olalekan Sorunke, 40, billed Medicare for unnecessary power wheelchairs and hospital beds that was “not medically necessary and, in some cases, was never provided to the Medicare beneficiaries,” Colvin wrote.
The owner of Lincoln Medical Supply, Inc., Sorunke was charged with four counts of health care fraud.
USAfrica wt additional reports from AP, WFAA and press conference statements.

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The greatest Igbo ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s great farewell in Aba. By Chido Nwangwu   https://usafricaonline.com/2012/02/28/the-greatest-igbo-odumegwu-ojukwu-farewell-in-aba-by-chido-nwangwu

USAfrica: Ikemba ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s farewell in Aba, today February 28, 2012, reflected a fitting tribute, historically meaningful celebration, proper regard and deserving appreciation of the greatest Igbo, in my opinion, to have ever lived (like him or hate him).

I SALUTE Aba (aka Enyimba city), the robust and fearless town I was born, bred and raised, for giving the Ikemba, our Ochiagha, Gburugburu, Oka oburu uzo, dike na ndu ma n’onwu, mgbadike anyi, a hero’s farewell.

To the Ikemba, may your valiant soul rest in peace and dignity.

We will, and I, Chido Nwangwu, will never forget to continue to tell my generation and the next about your towering courage through tempest and thunder; through sorrow, pain, tears, blood…. •Dr. Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks, first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; and recipient of several journalism and public policy awards, was recently profiled by the CNN International for his pioneering works on multimedia/news/public policy projects for Africans and Americans. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/07/29/mpa.african.media.bk.a.cnn.

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• For seasoned insights and breaking news on these issues, log on to USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica powered e-groups including Nigeria360 at yahoogroups and USAfrica at googlegroups. Follow us at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido and Twitter.com/Chido247