GUILTY MI - Dr. Farid Fata, oncologist, charged in cancer fraud, Oakland County, 2013

[michmi]

This is why I don't understand how people think they can get away with stuff like this.

In the payments, he sticks out like a sore thumb. It's a red flag. He was not some renowned cancer doctor, far from it. His offices were more a monument to himself than anything else.

Same as physicians who write an extraordinary amount of opiate prescriptions. That's generally how they come to be noticed.

 

[nightwatch]

This is why I don't understand how people think they can get away with stuff like this.

In the payments, he sticks out like a sore thumb. It's a red flag. He was not some renowned cancer doctor, far from it. His offices were more a monument to himself than anything else.

Same as physicians who write an extraordinary amount of opiate prescriptions. That's generally how they come to be noticed.

Reminds me of the Michael Rosin case. He was the dermatologist in FL who serviced medicare patients. Each one that came in his office had skin cancer and needed surgery. Some people had dozens of surgeries, he had about 800 patients. In 2006 he was sentenced to 22 yrs. And ordered to pay 7mil for intentionally misdiagnosing patients with cancer. Hopefully these people will get justice. *Tried to insert link, using phone didn't work.

ciao

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

April 17, 2014 at 11:16 am

Lawyers of oncologist accused of Medicare fraud want trial's venue moved from Detroit

Oralandar Brand-Williams/The Detroit News

Detroit—Lawyers for indicted oncologist Farid Fata Thursday filed a motion to have the highly-publicized case set for trial in August moved out of metro Detroit.

In asking for a change of venue today, Fata’s lawyers cited the volume of local newspaper stories, Facebook postings, broadcast reports and blogs about the Oakland Township doctor as a reason their client couldn’t receive a fair trial.

Fata is charged with defrauding Medicare of millions of dollars. The fraud occurred, in part, the government charges when he ordered rounds of unnecessary chemotherapy for patients who didn’t have cancer...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140417/METRO02/304170082#ixzz2zFVVate8

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

May 12, 2014 at 11:14 am

Hearing to be held on whether Fata will have trial moved out of Metro Detroit

Oralandar Brand-Williams/The Detroit News

Detroit — A hearing date was set Monday on a motion filed by attorneys for indicted cancer physician Dr. Farid Fata to have his upcoming trial on Medicare and other related-charges moved out of Metro Detroit.

The hearing will be held 2 p.m. June 3 before U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman.

Last month, lawyers for Fata filed the change of venue motion in federal court to have the highly publicized case set for trial in August moved out of the Detroit area citing pre-trial publicity...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140512/METRO02/305120080#ixzz31glRIIfC

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan cancer doctor who misdiagnosed patients won't get change of venue

Dr. Farid Fata wants taxpayers to pay for legal bills

Published On: Jun 02 2014 10:56:40 PM EDT Updated On: Jun 02 2014 11:00:00 PM EDT

DETROIT -
The cancer doctor accused of purposely misdiagnosing patients so that he could collect more money from Medicare won't get his trial moved out of southeastern Michigan.

Judge Paul Borman made the ruling Tuesday to keep Dr. Farid Fata's fraud trial local.

Fata and his attorney's filed for a change of venue in April, claiming there is community prejudice. Fata said his case has been in the media way too much and it's damaged his chances of getting a fair trial...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/cancer-doctor-who-misdiagnosed-patients-heads-to-court/26298694

 

[meanmaryjean]

What a disgusting story! What kind of monster does that to innocent people?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

June 3, 2014 at 11:21 pm

Oakland cancer doctor denied change of venue for trial

George Hunter/The Detroit News

Detroit — A cancer specialist accused of fraud will stand trail in Detroit, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, denying his request to have the trial moved out of the Metro area.

Attorneys for Dr. Farid Fata and the federal government brought up former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in their arguments.

Fata’s lawyer, Mark Kriger, said the case was different than Kilpatrick’s. “My client was referred to as a mobster. In the Kilpatrick case I don’t recall demonstrations in front of the courthouse.

“I think this case strikes a nerve that wasn’t present in the Kilpatrick case.” ...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140603/METRO08/306030039#ixzz33fwERB8O

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Change of venue request denied for oncologist accused of fraud

By Dave Phillips, The Oakland Press

Posted: 06/03/14, 10:40 AM EDT | Updated: 2 secs ago

An Oakland County cancer specialist accused of administering unnecessary cancer treatment to patients will have to stand trial in Detroit.

Attorneys for Dr. Farid Fata had sought a venue change, citing the copious amount of publicity the case has received, but a federal judge denied that motion Tuesday afternoon during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Detroit...

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/gene...equest-denied-for-oncologist-accused-of-fraud

 

[amandab]

I really like this judge.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

August 27, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Agent: Doctor accused of Medicare fraud planned to buy $3M castle

Robert Snell/The Detroit News

Detroit — A doctor accused of purposely misdiagnosing patients with cancer and reaping millions of dollarsfrom Medicare was interested in spending some of the illicit cash on a $3 million castle overlooking a seaside resort area in Lebanon, according to an FBI agent.

The allegation is contained in a search warrant affidavit unsealed in federal court and obtained by The Detroit News. The search warrant was executed in November and sought the contents of Dr. Farid Fata’s email account, which the FBI alleged the Oakland Township resident used with the help of a financial adviser to manage his money, including cash from an alleged health care fraud scheme.

The FBI wanted the doctor’s Hotmail account to trace tens of millions of dollars that flowed through various Fata-related entities, according to the search warrant...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140827/METRO02/308270062#ixzz3BcWoxZPD

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Detroit-area cancer doctor facing Oct. fraud trial asks judge to suppress email evidence

Dr. Farid Fata charged with intentionally misdiagnosing patients, ripping off Medicare

DETROIT -
Lawyers for a Detroit-area cancer specialist are asking a judge to stop prosecutors from using certain emails as evidence at his fraud trial.

Dr. Farid Fata is charged with intentionally misdiagnosing patients and ripping off Medicare through unnecessary treatments. A federal judge is holding a hearing Tuesday in a dispute over evidence...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...sks-judge-to-suppress-email-evidence/28079432

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

September 16, 2014 at 4:05 pm

Cancer doctor pleads guilty to health care fraud, money laundering, conspiracy

Oralandar Brand-Williams/The Detroit News

Detroit — Dr. Farid Fata, who was accused of giving chemotherapy to patients who didn’t have cancer as part of an alleged scheme to bilk Medicare out of millions of dollars, has pleaded guilty to several counts of health care fraud, money laundering and conspiracy

Fata pleaded guilty Tuesday to 13 counts and faces up to 10 years and/or a $250,000 fine on health care fraud and up to 20 years and half a million dollar fine for money laundering.

As part of entering a guilty plea, the Oakland County oncologist read aloud in U.S. District Court an admission to submitting false Medicare and insurance claims and ordering “medically unnecessary” treatments.

His plea comes on the final day of pretrial motions before his trial was scheduled to start on Oct. 14...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140916/METRO08/309160100#ixzz3DVoPYfWh

 

[OkieGranny]

Sentencing has been delayed:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...3/sentencing-cancer-doctor-canceled/26276205/

Convicted cancer doctor Farid Fata will have to wait to learn how long he'll spend in prison for crimes related to his practice as a popular oncologist, including giving treatments to patients who didn't need them...

Judge Paul D. Borman scheduled a new hearing date for 9 a.m. July 6 and to end no later than July 20, according to the court docket...

He faces up to 175 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the health care fraud counts and up to 20 years and a $500,000 fine for money laundering. He also faces fines after admitting he solicited kickbacks from Guardian Angel Hospice and Guardian Angel Home Health Care for referring patients to the facilities.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Impact statements released for victims of unnecessary treatment by Dr. Farid Fata

Fata accused of performing chemotherapy on patients who didn't have cancer

Published On: May 30 2015 01:02:43 PM EDT Updated On: May 30 2015 11:50:07 PM EDT

DETROIT -
Impact statements have been released for the victims of Dr. Farid Fata, an oncologist accused of issuing unnecessary cancer treatment to patients who didn't have cancer or had no chance to beat it.

Authorities released 26 pages of victim impact statements.

Federal officials say Fata scammed Medicare and BCBS alone out of $17 million. So far, over 550 victims have been identified...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...necessary-treatment-by-dr-farid-fata/33305122

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Feds: Doc's 'patients poisoned for money'

Laura Berman, The Detroit News 9:16 a.m. EDT May 30, 2015

Stating that Dr. Farid Fata "ordered his patients poisoned for money," federal prosecutors are seeking life in prison for the oncologist who built a storefront Rochester clinic into a medical empire before federal agents closed his offices in August 2013.

Fata pleaded guilty last September to multiple counts of fraudulent billing, participating in a kickback scheme and money laundering. A sentencing hearing is set to begin July 6.

Those charges only hint at the suffering described by the government in an 86-page memorandum filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday, as prosecutors make a case for what would likely be the longest sentence for health care fraud in American legal history. The $34.7 million in fraudulent health care billings — combined with Fata's disregard for the lives and welfare of his patients, his many examples of willful deceit and other factors — demand such a steep sentence, they say...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...9/feds-docs-patients-poisoned-money/28192149/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Whistle-blower: How a doctor uncovered a nightmare

Oncologist's discovery leads to the downfall of a cancer treatment empire

Laura Berman, The Detroit News

From the blue yarns tucked in a woven basket to the earth-tone carpeting and the solidity of the stone fireplace, every detail of the Crittenton Hospital Cancer Center's waiting room helps anxious patients feel embraced by warmth and comfort. Even the vaulted ceiling, crafted of gleaming cherry wood, suggests a religious sanctuary, not a medical clinic.

Two years ago, before St. John Health System acquired it, this was the foyer to Dr. Farid Fata's clinic, a tasteful yet grand reception area linking his private clinic to the hospital. It was an arrangement that lent Fata seemingly special status and enhanced his reputation with patients.

Yet at 10 a.m. on July 1, 2013, Monica Flagg felt dread as she entered this space, a full year after a routine urine test showed an M protein spike that led her physician to refer her to Fata, a well-known oncologist and hematologist. She was 51, the executive director of a state-licensed nonprofit -- a competent woman facing the stress of a life-threatening illness...

http://www.detroitnews.com/longform...-doctor-uncovered-medical-nightmare/71027690/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Patients to speak next week at sentencing of cancer doc

Associated Press 6 p.m. EDT June 30, 2015

Detroit — The government says about two dozen patients or relatives of patients want to speak next week at the sentencing of a Detroit-area cancer doctor who gave expensive, unnecessary treatments to hundreds of people...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...ents-speak-cancer-doctor-sentencing/29534945/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Lawyers want limit on victim statements against Fata

Mark Hicks The Detroit News 10:52 p.m. EDT July 1, 2015

Lawyers for a Metro Detroit oncologist who pleaded guilty last year to unnecessary treatment for patients who were told they had cancer are seeking to limit how many victims can speak at his sentencing next week.

Lawyers for Dr. Farid Fata have filed a brief in which they indicate the government wants to include more than 100 victim impact statements, some of whom, they said, do not qualify as victims.

“Defendant ... move(s) this honorable court to strike all written and/or oral statements of ‘alleged’ victims who do not qualify as a victim” in part, the attorneys said, because only 10 patients have been identified...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...s-want-limit-victim-statements-fata/29600573/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Feds say cancer doc wants 25-year sentence for fraud

Associated Press 4:01 p.m. EDT July 3, 2015

Detroit — A Detroit-area cancer doctor who admits reaping millions of dollars through unnecessary treatments is asking a judge to sentence him to no more than 25 years in prison.

Dr. Farid Fata's sentencing memo is sealed in Detroit federal court. But his request for a 25-year sentence was disclosed by prosecutors Thursday in a court filing. The government repeated its call for a 175-year sentence...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2015/07/03/farid-fata/29673103/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Victims line up for cancer doctor's sentencing

Laura Berman, The Detroit News 11:42 p.m. EDT July 4, 2015

Geraldine Parkin will face cancer doctor Farid Fata in Detroit federal court on Monday morning, as she and 24 other victims or family members of victims prepare to make statements as part of the cancer doctor's sentencing hearing.

"For me, I want the pleasure of looking him in the eye," says Parkin, who says her husband, Tim Parkin, is largely disabled as a result of his treatment. Fata once looked into her eyes and those of her adult children, insisting that her husband needed chemotherapy. Now she is ready to respond.

"I want to say to him, 'You gave us a life of the unknown, of misery, and now you're going to have a life behind bars.' "

The hearing, which is expected to last all week, likely will conclude with Judge Paul D. Borman sentencing Fata, who faces life in prison for his crimes. About 150 victims filed victim impact statements with the court...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/op...tims-line-cancer-doctors-sentencing/29724533/