Fraud News: Separate Scams Involving Chiropractor, Attorney and Farmer

N.J. Chiropractor Gets Prison Term for Medical Fraud Ring Role

A chiropractor involved in a medical fraud ring that bilked nearly $4 million overall from several insurers is now headed to prison.

John Langeraap received a three-year sentence Friday. The 39-year-old Sparta man had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.

Langeraap was a front man for a chiropractic practice operated by Phillip Potacco, another chiropractor whose license had been revoked for misconduct in 2002.

State authorities say Potacco used a medical consulting group to recruit accident victims and people who staged car crashes so he could submit bogus insurance claims.

Langeraap let Potacco open and use a bank account in his name. He also let him create medical records, health care claim forms and reports for use in arbitration claims – all in Langeraap’s name and under Langeraap’s license – without Potacco ever seeing patients.

Texas Attorney Charged With Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Texas grand jury indicted Leslie Casaubon of Lewisville on charges of workers’ compensation fraud for allegedly billing clients for services that were not provided, false billing, and tampering with a government record. The indictment alleges fraud of more than $400,000.

According to the indictments, Casaubon submitted false attorney hours through the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s electronic system and is accused of billing for more services than were actually provided.

Attorney billing in the Texas workers’ compensation system is subject to review for compliance with commissioner rules, the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, and other laws. Attorneys who commit violations may be referred to enforcement or to other authorities, including licensing agencies, district and county attorneys, or the attorney general.

The Division’s fraud unit assisted in the investigation and the DWC prosecution unit obtained the indictments. The DWC prosecution unit is embedded in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and was created during the 85th Texas Legislature.

Alabama Farmer Pleads Guilty in $919K Crop Insurance Scam

Authorities say an Alabama farmer has acknowledged falsifying documents that allowed him to receive $919,000 in crop insurance money he wasn’t entitled to.

The Dothan Eagle reported Thursday that Dexter Day Gilbert pleaded guilty recently to submitting false applications for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Authorities say the applications were submitted under his name and others.

Court documents say Gilbert, who has farms in Alabama and Florida, began submitting the applications in March 2016. The documents state Gilbert submitted 14 false claims of loss between July and November 2016, netting insurance payments of more than $919,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for September.

Authorities say Gilbert is one of three farmers from the Dothan area to be separately charged with agriculture insurance fraud.