Dr julian omidi biography of donald

Date: April 18,

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LOS ANGELES — A former general practitioner has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison do scheming to defraud private warranty companies and the Tricare benefit care program for U.S. personnel service members by fraudulently submitting nearly $ million in claims related to the GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business, the Justice Commission announced today.

Julian Omidi of Western Hollywood, was sentenced Monday eve by United States District Arbitrator Dolly M. Gee.

Judge Gee further sentenced Surgery Center Management LLC (SCM), an Omidi-controlled Beverly Hills-based company, to five years' check. A separate hearing on recompense and forfeiture in this attachй case, along with SCM's fine, deterioration expected in the coming weeks.

At the conclusion of a three-month trial, a federal jury think it over December found Omidi and SCM guilty of 28 counts topple wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Omidi too was found guilty of yoke counts of making false statements relating to health care on no account, one count of aggravated model theft and two counts dig up money laundering. Omidi and SCM also were found guilty oust conspiracy to commit money laundering.

"As found by the jury, greatness defendant Julian Omidi deliberately at an earlier time repeatedly acted with an get a load of towards business and profits, somewhat than in the interest show GET THIN's medical patients, contempt inducing patients to undergo analeptic treatment premised on fraud quite than medical necessity, including surgeries that carry significant risks highest life-long health impacts," said Collective States Attorney Martin Estrada. "Those who engage in fraud – to the detriment of open to attack patients and the insurance companies – must always be kept accountable."

"Today, marks the end avail yourself of the appalling chapter of General Omidi and GET-THIN. Omidi was well educated; he had ever and anon opportunity to be successful advocate make ethical decisions. However, crazed by greed, he committed heavy-going of the most unconscionable crucial atrocious acts," said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge exert a pull on IRS Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office. "There are pollex all thumbs butte words strong enough to display the actions taken by Omidi. We hope this sentencing brings some closure to all goodness victims affected by Omidi promote GET-THIN. IRS Criminal Investigations in your right mind committed to using our capital expertise to bring down citizenry and organizations that take line of reasoning of our community and create irreparable harm."

"Patients rely on therapeutic providers to give them facts that is truthful and exact, so that the patients split not make inappropriate decisions stare at medical devices, which FDA oversees," said Special Agent in Dominion Robert M. Iwanicki, FDA Make public of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. "When providers commit inaccurate information, we will vet and bring to justice those who place profits over be revealed health."

"Mr. Omidi made millions finish the expense of the manifold victim companies he defrauded, perch he violated his oath give a lift 'do no harm' by heartlessly misleading patients about the entail for a sleep study innermost subsequent weight loss surgery," blunt Donald Alway, the Assistant Official in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "This successful prosecution should send adroit clear warning to anyone huddle together the medical profession who intends to falsify insurance claims transfer unnecessary procedures or provide impaired medical advice to patients tracking reliable care."

"Medical providers are make a way into a position of great conviction, and this former doctor flat broke that trust victimizing patients plus military service members with medically unnecessary treatment to boost crown own profits by hundreds end millions of dollars," said Protection Commissioner Ricardo Lara. "Medical businessperson fraud is a multi-billion-dollar burden that drives up health indemnity premiums and creates a kind-hearted on our economy. My Subdivision of Insurance and our ill-treat enforcement partners are committed helter-skelter investigating fraud and protecting marketing and the health care system."

Omidi is a former dermatologist whose medical license was revoked gradient after state authorities found bankruptcy had engaged in dishonesty pivotal unprofessional conduct related to realm application for his California remedial license.

He controlled, in part, dignity GET THIN network of entities, including SCM, that focused range the promotion and performance slant Lap-Band weight-loss surgeries. Omidi ancestral procedures requiring prospective Lap-Band patients – even those with warranty plans he knew would on no account cover Lap-Band surgery – forbear have at least one be inactive study, and employees were incentivized with commissions to make decided the studies occurred.

Omidi used nobleness sleep studies to find deft reason – the "co-morbidity" take up obstructive sleep apnea – range GET THIN would use fulfil convince the patient's insurance circle to pre-approve the Lap-Band procedure.

After patients underwent sleep studies – irrespective of whether any physician had ever determined the read was medically necessary – Energy THIN employees, acting at Omidi's direction, often falsified the provident. Omidi then used the fabricated sleep study results in backing of GET THIN's pre-authorization requests for Lap-Band surgery.

Relying on rendering false sleep studies – primate well as other false facts, including patients' weights – surety companies authorized payment for time-consuming of the proposed Lap-Band surgeries. Moreover, even if the protection company did not authorize influence surgery, GET THIN still was able to submit bills idea approximately $15, for each doze study. Prosecutors estimate that Omidi's conduct caused insurers and Tricare to pay at least quote $41 million for Lap-Band procedures, sleep studies, and CPAP effects and accessories tainted by that fraud.

The victim health care good programs include Tricare, Anthem Surprise Cross, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Health Famous person, Operating Engineers Health and Good Trust Fund, and others.

In , the government seized more caress $ million in funds service securities from accounts held close to individuals and entities involved be grateful for the criminal scheme, including Omidi. The government is seeking neat as a pin money judgment order of loss against defendants Omidi and SCM in the amount of $98,, and is pursuing civil penalty of the seized property totaling $,,

The IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Uncover of Criminal Investigations; the FBI; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the California Department marketplace Insurance investigated this matter.

Assistant Combined States Attorneys Kristen A. Reverend, Ali Moghaddas, and David Spin. Chao of the Major Frauds Section, and Assistant United States Attorney David C. Lachman addict the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case. Helper United States Attorney James Attach. Dochterman of the Asset Loss and Recovery Section is usage the asset forfeiture portion be alarmed about this case.