Sentence imposed for Western N.Y. health care fraud

A teacher who is a part-time chiropractor in Western New York was sentenced for submitting false claims to private insurance companies and Medicare.

The following is a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York.

Frewsburg Man Sentenced For Health Care Fraud

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that Leo A. Kronert, Jr., 66, of Frewsburg, NY, who was convicted of healthcare fraud, was sentenced to three years supervised release to include six months of home confinement and 100 hours community service by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The defendant was also ordered to pay $59,449.00 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell, who handled the case, stated that the defendant, then a full-time teacher at Salamanca High School and a part-time chiropractor in Salamanca, submitted false claims for payment to Medicare and private insurance companies seeking reimbursement for health care services allegedly provided in connection with his chiropractic practice. The fraudulent claims totaled approximately $92,000, and included bills for patient visits on dates during which Kronert was travelling out of the area and bills for an individual who did not reside in Western New York.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-in-Charge and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Scott Lampert.