Podiatrist Charged With Health Care Fraud And Identity Theft

Aileen Gong, D.P.M., 55, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment, on October 3, 2014, with health care fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment charges that between 2009 and February 2014, Gong, a podiatrist, submitted at least $480,000 in fraudulent claims to Medicare.

According to the indictment, Gong submitted claims for patient visits that never occurred -- including visits that she claimed took place while she was outside of the United States -- and submitted claims for procedures that she did not perform on patients who did visit her office in Philadelphia.  It is further alleged that as part of the scheme she knowingly used, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person, that is, the unique Medicare Beneficiary Number of patients.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 184 years in prison and a fine of $3.5 million.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurie Magid.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Click here to view the indictment.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
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