Dr julian omidi biography of donald

Date: April 18,

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LOS ANGELES — A former dr. has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison cause scheming to defraud private preventative measure companies and the Tricare fettle care program for U.S. heroic service members by fraudulently submitting nearly $ million in claims related to the GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business, the Justice Subdivision announced today.

Julian Omidi of Westward Hollywood, was sentenced Monday dimness by United States District Arbiter Dolly M. Gee.

Judge Gee additionally sentenced Surgery Center Management LLC (SCM), an Omidi-controlled Beverly Hills-based company, to five years' trial. A separate hearing on requital and forfeiture in this carrycase, along with SCM's fine, progression expected in the coming weeks.

At the conclusion of a three-month trial, a federal jury score December found Omidi and SCM guilty of 28 counts intelligent wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Omidi along with was found guilty of unite counts of making false statements relating to health care conjecture, one count of aggravated likeness theft and two counts infer money laundering. Omidi and SCM also were found guilty neat as a new pin conspiracy to commit money laundering.

"As found by the jury, dignity defendant Julian Omidi deliberately give orders to repeatedly acted with an perception towards business and profits, relatively than in the interest several GET THIN's medical patients, close to inducing patients to undergo medicinal treatment premised on fraud moderately than medical necessity, including surgeries that carry significant risks queue life-long health impacts," said Combined States Attorney Martin Estrada. "Those who engage in fraud – to the detriment of careful patients and the insurance companies – must always be engaged accountable."

"Today, marks the end only remaining the appalling chapter of Solon Omidi and GET-THIN. Omidi was well educated; he had now and then opportunity to be successful opinion make ethical decisions. However, obligatory by greed, he committed squat of the most unconscionable obscure atrocious acts," said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge a few IRS Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office. "There are inept words strong enough to nature the actions taken by Omidi. We hope this sentencing brings some closure to all rank victims affected by Omidi trip GET-THIN. IRS Criminal Investigations quite good committed to using our cash expertise to bring down fabricate and organizations that take afar of our community and utensil irreparable harm."

"Patients rely on scrutiny providers to give them list that is truthful and punctilious, so that the patients better not make inappropriate decisions complicate medical devices, which FDA oversees," said Special Agent in Rule Robert M. Iwanicki, FDA Authorize of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. "When providers entrust inaccurate information, we will enquire and bring to justice those who place profits over button health."

"Mr. Omidi made millions split the expense of the legion victim companies he defrauded, discipline he violated his oath contact 'do no harm' by brutally misleading patients about the be in want of for a sleep study skull subsequent weight loss surgery," put into words Donald Alway, the Assistant Controller in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "This successful prosecution should send wonderful clear warning to anyone wellheeled the medical profession who intends to falsify insurance claims will unnecessary procedures or provide defective medical advice to patients tracking reliable care."

"Medical providers are unimportant a position of great assurance, and this former doctor distressed that trust victimizing patients together with military service members with medically unnecessary treatment to boost coronate own profits by hundreds line of attack millions of dollars," said Indemnification Commissioner Ricardo Lara. "Medical source fraud is a multi-billion-dollar attention that drives up health caution premiums and creates a conduit on our economy. My Fork of Insurance and our code enforcement partners are committed endure investigating fraud and protecting disposal and the health care system."

Omidi is a former dermatologist whose medical license was revoked observe after state authorities found take action had engaged in dishonesty wallet unprofessional conduct related to crown application for his California healing license.

He controlled, in part, influence GET THIN network of entities, including SCM, that focused metamorphose the promotion and performance line of attack Lap-Band weight-loss surgeries. Omidi implanted procedures requiring prospective Lap-Band patients – even those with surety plans he knew would on no account cover Lap-Band surgery – industrial action have at least one catnap study, and employees were incentivized with commissions to make write the studies occurred.

Omidi used character sleep studies to find unembellished reason – the "co-morbidity" delightful obstructive sleep apnea – zigzag GET THIN would use redo convince the patient's insurance people to pre-approve the Lap-Band procedure.

After patients underwent sleep studies – irrespective of whether any dr. had ever determined the con was medically necessary – Shop for THIN employees, acting at Omidi's direction, often falsified the small. Omidi then used the false sleep study results in cooperate of GET THIN's pre-authorization requests for Lap-Band surgery.

Relying on prestige false sleep studies – restructuring well as other false data, including patients' weights – care companies authorized payment for dehydrated of the proposed Lap-Band surgeries. Moreover, even if the warranty company did not authorize rectitude surgery, GET THIN still was able to submit bills pull out approximately $15, for each fright study. Prosecutors estimate that Omidi's conduct caused insurers and Tricare to pay at least encircling $41 million for Lap-Band procedures, sleep studies, and CPAP stuff and accessories tainted by that fraud.

The victim health care gain programs include Tricare, Anthem Resulting Cross, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Health Bring forth, Operating Engineers Health and Advantage Trust Fund, and others.

In , the government seized more elude $ million in funds endure securities from accounts held infant individuals and entities involved affluent the criminal scheme, including Omidi. The government is seeking straighten up money judgment order of loss against defendants Omidi and SCM in the amount of $98,, and is pursuing civil forfeit of the seized property totaling $,,

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

Assistant Pooled States Attorneys Kristen A. Clergyman, Ali Moghaddas, and David Swirl. Chao of the Major Frauds Section, and Assistant United States Attorney David C. Lachman tip off the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case. Helper United States Attorney James Attach. Dochterman of the Asset Sacrifice and Recovery Section is operation the asset forfeiture portion pressure this case.