Central Mass. by the Numbers

$2M

A dentist and her Worcester-based dental practice were indicted in connection to an alleged scheme to defraud MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, of over $2 million, the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced. Meenakshy Yegneswaran, 55, of Hopkinton, and her practice, Pleasant Street Dental, were indicted by a Worcester County grand jury. The defendants are each charged with one count of Medicaid false claims, counts of larceny over $1,200 and Medicaid excess charges. The attorney general's office alleges Yegneswaran and Pleasant Street Dental billed MassHealth for dental services that were never provided.

139

The former site of Canal District restaurant Smokestack Urban Barbecue has been sold to the owners of Chinese hot pot restaurants in Providence and Brookline. The former Smokestack building at 139 Green St. was previously planned to be the site of a 375-unit apartment project that was part of the redevelopment of the property around the former Table Talk Pies factory at 120 Washington St. According to records with the Worcester District Registry of Deeds, the deed transferring the property to the operators of LaMei Hot Pot was signed May 28 and recorded June 13. The LaMei owners purchased the property for $680,000.

67

Another beer garden is coming to downtown Worcester this summer and will be hosted at a familiar green space in the area. 67 Degrees Brewing of Franklin plans to operate the beer garden at the CitySquare at Eaton Place, a patch of open space between Mercantile and Front streets, next to Worcester Common Garage. The beer garden will operate from July 4 to Oct. 13 and will be open Thursdays through Sundays and the hours will largely be 3 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, noon to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

25

Oakhurst Manor in Northbridge, destroyed in an overnight fire in March, could be sold. Owner Clarence Risher said he signed a purchase-and-sale agreement last week to sell the 25-acre site to a local business. Risher declined to name the buyer and the sale price. He expects the closing to happen within two months. The buyer intends to build at least eight houses on the property and will make scheduled payments instead of a lump sum at closing. Risher has owned the property for nearly three years and said he paid $1.35 million for it.

$220,000

An administrator for a Worcester nursing home was indicted in connection with an alleged scheme to steal more than $220,000 from the home and its residents, the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced. Luiza Wade, 43, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was indicted by a Worcester County grand jury on four counts of larceny over $250 from a person 60 or older or disabled; four counts of larceny over $1,200; two counts of forgery; one count of false entry in corporate books and one count of tax evasion. Campbell's office alleges that Wade deposited at least $220,000 belonging to the home into her personal bank accounts