N.J. Chiropractor Charged with Fraud

An Essex County, N.J. chiropractor has been charged with conspiracy and health care claims fraud in a $19,000 automobile insurance case, according to state officials.

Attorney General Zulima V. Farber and Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw reported that Eugene Williams, also known as Carroll E. Williams, 69, last known address is in Newark, was charged with conspiracy and health care claims fraud, both in the second degree. Under state law, crimes of the second degree carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000. In addition, Williams faces civil insurance fraud fines.

Officials said the matter will also be referred to the Chiropractic Board for action regard to his chiropractic license.

The Aug. 21 Essex County grand jury indictment alleges that between Feb. 10, 2000 and Sept. 5, 2001, Williams, a licensed chiropractic physician who worked at LaGuardia Primary Health Care Center in East Orange, conspired with others to cause bills to be submitted to Parkway Insurance Company for chiropractic and other services not rendered. Officials said that an undercover investigation determined that Williams billed Parkway for services not provided to undercover investigators and in one instance directed an undercover investigator sit for a while and leave without being treated. Williams would then have bills submitted to Parkway Insurance Company on behalf of the purported patients. As a result, Parkway was fraudulently billed more than $19,000 of those PIP insurance bills.

Dr. LeClerc Addison, the former owner of LaGuardia Primary Health Care, previously plead guilty to health care claims fraud and criminal use of runners and was sentenced on April 19, 2005 to five years probation conditioned on serving 364 days in the county jail as part of the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s investigation of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) fraud.

The indictment, which was handed up Aug. 21, is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: N.J. Attorney General