Indictment taps Californian with $4 million in false Medicare claims

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. prosecutors said the former owner of Royal Medical Supply in Los Angeles had been indicted for submitting $4 million worth of fraudulent Medicare claims.

The Justice Department said Monday Valery Bogomolny, 41, was indicted on six counts of healthcare fraud that could result in a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison -- 10 for each count -- if convicted on all charges.

Allegedly, Bogomolny submitted claims for durable medical equipment, such as power wheelchairs, on behalf of clients, even though he knew "the prescriptions and medical documents were fraudulent and that some of the beneficiaries did not receive," the equipment.

"Yet he certified to Medicare with the submission of each claim that the DME [durable medical equipment] was medically necessary," the Justice Department said.

The department said Bogomolny submitted $4 million in fraudulent claims and Medicare paid his company $2.7 million.