OC CHIROPRACTOR ARRESTED FOR HEALTH CLAIMS FRAUD AND POSSESSION OF FENTANYL
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Senior Supervisory Special Agent James DiOrio of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announce the arrest of Doctor of Chiropractic Carlo Amato, 55, of Beachwood, NJ. Amato is charged with 4 counts of Health Care Claims Fraud and Possession of a Control Dangerous Substance (Fentanyl).
Prosecutor Coronato stated, “Personal Injury Protection exists to serve as critical help for those suffering the effects of an auto accident, not as a means for people to profit from false health care claims. Ill gained profits are passed along in the form of higher premium payments to everyone in order to cover insurance company losses. This investigation and subsequent arrest should signal to all health care practitioners that our office takes these matters seriously.”
The investigation was conducted by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Detective John P. LaRaia, Jr and FBI Special Agent Christine Parr, with assistance from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, FBI Red Bank Office, National Insurance Crime Bureau Supervisory Special Agent Terri DiGiorgio and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. The charges are the result of an undercover operation begun in early Fall of 2015, which culminated Wednesday (12/7) with the execution of a court authorized search warrant of Amato’s residence, chiropractic office, 2017 Audi Q7 and 2014 Porsche Panamera automobiles.
Dr. Amato was housed in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of bail set at $200,000 no 10%. Further conditions of his bail mandate he is not allowed to practice chiropractic medicine due to his possession of Fentanyl and he must surrender his passport. The investigation continues and the criminal case will be prosecuted by Ocean County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Martin Anton. A Civil Forfeiture complaint and other legal documents were filed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office seeking all assets obtained as a result of the alleged illegal acts.
If you were a patient of Dr. Amato and believe that your insurance carrier was overbilled for services he did not perform, please contact Detective LaRaia at 732-929-2027.
Despite these charges, the defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Carlo Amato
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