U.S. attorney files healthcare fraud cases

CHICAGO, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Four people have been charged in three unrelated federal healthcare fraud cases, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday.

A statement said the two doctors and two medical suppliers who were charged allegedly defrauded either Medicare and/or private healthcare insurers by either billing for services they never provided or inflating the services they did provide.

"Healthcare fraud remains an important priority of federal law enforcement. We will use all of our resources to ensure that dishonest physicians and other medical providers do not profit from cheating Medicare and private insurers," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The cases were charged or unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Illinois.

The defendants -- Drs. Sushil Sheth of Chicago and Otto Garcia Montenegro of Elmwood Park, Ill.; and Stephen Anthony Pam and Shavon Keyona Williams both of Sugarland, Texas -- were each charged with one or more counts of healthcare fraud.

If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.