Grand Jury Indicts NK Man in $20 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme

A federal grand jury in New Haven, CT has returned a nine-count indictment, charging Gary Anusavice of North Kingstown with various offenses in relation to his involved in a $20 million Medicaid fraud scheme.

Federal agents . According to the U.S Attorney's Office in Connecticut, continued to defraud taxpayers by "using an elaborate shield of companies and individuals to hide his involvement" after he was barred from practicing dentistry in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

“By surreptitiously operating dental clinics in Connecticut, this defendant allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program of more than $20 million over a two-year period,” said U.S. Attorney David B. Fein. “We are committed to protecting American taxpayers from health care fraud, which can increase costs and jeopardize the integrity of our health care system.  I want to commend HHS-OIG, IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI for their investigative efforts, and thank the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, which provided invaluable assistance during the course of this investigation.”

According to reports, Anusavice trouble with the law began in 1997 when he was hit with a felony conviction in Massachusetts for submitying false health care claims. Anusavice was barred from practicing dentistry in Rhode Island in 2005. The following year, Massachusetts revoked his license to practice dentistry in the state.

His grand jury indictment, delivered on June 7, charges Anusavice with one count of conspiring with others to fraudulently obtain money from the Connecticut Medicaid program by submitting claims and concealing/misrepresenting his prior disciplinary and criminal history – which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

Additionally, Anusavice was indicted on one count of health care fraud (with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison) and two counts of wire fraud (maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count). He also faces four counts of making false statements involving the Medicaid Program and one count of concealment/failure to disclose an event affecting the Medicaid Program – each count carrying maximum sentence of five years in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Wines and Richard Molot, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sean Beaty. U.S. Attorney Fein encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at 203-777-6311 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.