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Slip and Fall: Doctors and Lawyers Convicted of Massive Fraud in New York

'26.08.2021'

Nurgul Sultanova-Chetin

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It is believed that a group of resourceful doctors and lawyers recruited people for fraudulent activities. This network of criminal activity was conventionally called "slip and fall." Her goal was to defraud businesses and insurance companies throughout New York. The scam brought them over $ 31 million. For five years, the crooks have instructed more than 400 "victims", reports NY Daily News... They had to claim they tripped and fell due to cracks in sidewalks, potholes in roads, poor visibility and damaged basement doors, etc. After that, they became plaintiffs in fraudulent lawsuits for millions of dollars, and then all the work was taken over by the lawyers and doctors participating in the scheme.

Photo: Shutterstock

After the staged accidents, the “victims” were referred to certain lawyers, officials said. Then - to certain doctors and specialists, where they received manual therapy, medical assistance and opinions to substantiate their claims.

Some patients even had surgeries that they didn't need. As part of the scheme, they received up to $ 1500 for going under the knife.

Scammers chose those in need of money

To simplify this scheme, the scammers recruited the poorest people they could find as “victims”: they attracted those who were desperate for money. Such people were ready to go under the knife to receive payment for their "services" after the operation. The financial situation of some “patients” was so difficult that their first request in surgery planning meetings was a simple desire to eat.

Photo: Shutterstock

“Many 'patients' did not have warm clothing to keep warm in the winter and had poor quality shoes,” US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement. - The organizers of the scheme also recruited drug addicts. Often, future “victims” were recruited from homeless shelters in New York.

On the subject: A scammer cleverly took people from their homes in New York: the scheme worked for decades

According to Strauss, the defendants included George Constantine, 58, and Mark Elephant, 49. Both are licensed attorneys in New York. They represented hundreds of “victims” and filed lawsuits on their behalf in a fraudulent scheme.

Andrew Dowd, 45, a licensed New York orthopedic surgeon, has also been charged in the case. He has performed hundreds of knee and shoulder surgeries on patients under this scheme. Authorities said Daoud earned roughly $ 9500 per operation.

Authorities have also brought charges against 51-year-old Sadi Ribeiro, a New York-licensed pain doctor and surgeon. He performed back surgery, among other medical procedures. According to officials, Ribeiro paid kickbacks to participants - under this scheme, he “treated” almost 200 patients.

Each of the suspects faces up to 20 years in prison on fraud charges.

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