Thread: Typical Mexican citizen operation in the United States

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http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_15297490

EP physician Dr. Anthony Francis Valdez charged with defrauding health-care programs

By Adriana M. Chávez \ El Paso Times
Posted: 06/15/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

EL PASO -- An El Paso physician has been charged with 99 criminal counts, alleging that he created a scheme to defraud health-care programs.

FBI agents on Sunday arrested Dr. Anthony Francis Valdez, a psychiatrist and owner of the International Institute of Pain Management clinics in El Paso and San Antonio. His arrest came three years to the day that agents raided Valdez's office on Zaragoza Road.

Prosecutors allege that Valdez fraudulently billed health-care programs almost $42 million for treatments, and that he received about $12.3 million.

Valdez, 56, was charged with 21 counts of health-care fraud, 20 counts of making false statements relating to health-care matters, 21 counts of mail fraud, 17 counts of wire fraud, four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and 16 counts of money laundering.

An indictment stated that between 2001 and 2009 Valdez periodically billed Medicare, Tricare and the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission for treatments not covered by those programs.

Valdez was also accused of training non-licensed employees to administer treatments such as prolotherapy, a procedure meant to strengthen weak ligaments or relieve pain.

The indictment alleges the doctor illegally dispensed fentanyl, hydrocodone and oxycontin. Prosecutors claim Valdez gave employees his prescription pad so that they could write prescriptions for patients when he was not available.

Valdez, in a dark-blue jumpsuit, his hands and feet shackled, appeared
Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa. Valdez bowed his head as Mesa read the charges against him.

Mesa set Valdez's bond at $20,000, relatively low for a person of means. Mesa told Valdez he did so because Valdez did not flee the country after agents raided his office in 2007.

Mesa allowed Valdez to continue practicing medicine in El Paso and San Antonio pending the outcome of the case. However, Valdez was ordered to hand over his passport and continue residing in his West Side home.

Prosecutors have filed a request seeking forfeiture of $1.7 million in cash, homes in San Antonio and El Paso and five vehicles belonging to Valdez.

According to the state medical board, Valdez received his medical degree in 1983 from the Universidad de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

Jurors acquitted Valdez in 1999 of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He was accused of making false workers' compensation claims involving more than $70,000.

Valdez paid a $1,000 penalty to the Texas Medical Board in November 2007 for inappropriately reporting that he was "board certified" by the American Academy of Pain Management.

In 1998, the Texas Medical Board also assessed a $500 administrative penalty against Valdez for "failure to practice medicine in an acceptable manner consistent with public heath and welfare."

The board last received a complaint about Valdez in March. A group of patients accused Valdez of inadequately maintaining patient records and supervising employees during medical treatments. They also accused Valdez of prescribing treatments not medically proven to work, and of prescribing large quantities of controlled substances to patients without assessing potential substance abuse and other risks.

Valdez's arraignment was scheduled for June 25.

Prosecutors allege that Valdez fraudulently billed health-care programs almost $42 million for treatments, and that he received about $12.3 million.

Valdez, 56, was charged with 21 counts of health-care fraud, 20 counts of making false statements relating to health-care matters, 21 counts of mail fraud, 17 counts of wire fraud, four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and 16 counts of money laundering.

And for this, the judge sets bail at $20,000, in which this guy only needs to post 10%.

Mesa set Valdez's bond at $20,000, relatively low for a person of means. Mesa told Valdez he did so because Valdez did not flee the country after agents raided his office in 2007.

Yeah...so lets give him one more chance to do so. I wonder if this was a little professional, as well as raza courtesy.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Mesa told Valdez he did so because Valdez did not flee the country after agents raided his office in 2007.

His bail was set low because THE LAST TIME WE RAIDED HIS OFFICE for committing a bunch of crimes he acted like a really, really nice guy...

Why did it take 3 years after the initial raid to charge the guy? Government at its best.