- Justina Okehie, 55,
- Dr. Ben Echols, 61
- Ekpedeme obot, 34
- Sharon Veal, 47
- Akinsunbo Akinbile, 43
- Simone Ball, 24
- Phillip Ware, 30
- Melloneen Davis, 52
Sting nets 10 local healthcare professionals
HOUSTON
Ten Houston defendants are part of this nationwide takedown. One of them is a gastroenterologist, Dr. Ben Echols. He's accused of bilking Medicare for more than $5 million dollars.
Dr. Echols runs an office in a building off the 610 South Loop West. It's called the Onyx Medical Clinic and Houston Center for Digestive Disease. According to a federal indictment, Dr. Echols is accused of defrauding Medicare of $5.2 million. Court documents indicate he accepted and received kickbacks and bribes in exchange for providing false and fraudulent prescriptions to patients.
Federal authorities charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud as part of a bust that netted more suspects than any other in history. So far, 111 people have been arrested, accused of illegally billing medicare for more than $225 million.
"Every action taken by those defrauding the system.. effects the legitimate users ..all those people who were denied access. .raises the cost for everyone in the community," said
The local suspects arrested include a chiropractor and owners/operators of durable medical equipment providers across the Houston area.
Arrested those arrested in the Houston area are:
