DOJ: 193 face charges after $2.75B in fake health care claims, including 7 from Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, June 27, that 193 people across the country face charges in health care fraud schemes meant to total $2.75 billion. Those charged include doctors, nurses and other professionals in cases that caused $1.6 billion in real losses. Seven defendants are from Louisiana.

According to a DOJ news release, more than $900 million was tied to amniotic wound grafts. Five people tied to a technology company reportedly distributed millions of pills of “Adderall and other stimulants.” Misbranded or adulterated HIV medication reportedly accounted for $90 million in fraud. Addiction treatment schemes totaled more than $146 million in fraudulent claims, and another $1.1 billion was tied to telemedicine and laboratory cases. Opioid issues and other fraud reportedly made up another $450 million in fraudulent filings.

“Healthcare fraud victimizes patients, endangers the health of vulnerable people, and plunders healthcare programs,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the release. “This wide-ranging collaboration demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to rooting out predatory healthcare fraud, protecting patients, and ensuring critical healthcare funds go where they are needed most.”

Working with local law enforcement agencies around the U.S., investigators reportedly seized “$231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets,” according to the DOJ.

Seven federal cases are pending in Louisiana in the Eastern, Western and Middle districts of Louisiana. According to the DOJ:

• Dennis Peyroux, 57, of Slidell, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud.
• Dr. Benjamin Tekippe, 39, of Orleans Parish, “was charged by second superseding indictment for his role in health care and unemployment insurance fraud schemes.”
• John Christopher Barrilleaux, 64, of Thibodaux, was charged with health care fraud.
• Kevan Andre Hills, 30, Devin Tyrone Stampley, Jr., 32, and Asia Deshan Guess, 27, of Baton Rouge, were indicted on “conspiracy to acquire and obtain possession of controlled substances by fraud and to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft.” Hills and Stampley were also charged with acquiring and obtaining possession of controlled substances by fraud. Stampley also faces one count of burglary of a pharmacy.
• Michael L. Riggins, 61, of Ouachita Parish, was indicted on conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud.

This story will be updated.

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