Some cases of fraud would make great movies. For example, everyone who enjoyed watching Frank Abagnale, as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, repeatedly faking it until he made it in Catch Me If You Can would happily watch a cinematic adaptation of the fraud perpetuated by Tobechi Onwuhara, who painstakingly searched for people’s personal details online and then flawlessly imitated their voices while applying by phone for home equity loans in their names, using the money to party hard in South Beach.
Those scams with less entertainment value, however, tend to go on longer before anyone gets suspicious. In March 2018, a Dallas court convicted Terry Anderson and his son Rocky Anderson of health insurance fraud. Their crime was running a shamelessly commercial promotion involving hearing tests and prescription glasses, all on Blue Cross Blue Shield’s dime. They could face up to 12 years each in prison.
The Health Insurance Scam
Terry and Rocky Anderson own Anderson Optical and Hearing Aids Center in Dallas. While they are not medical doctors, they can submit health insurance claims, as health insurance pays for most of the products their store sells. Both father and son are certified by the state of Texas as Fitters and Dispensers of Hearing Instruments. Their scam lasted from early 2011 until almost the end of 2016, and it started with a promotion that went too well.
Many of the patients who visit Anderson Optical and Hearing are elderly, and they are concerned about both their vision and their hearing. The store ran a promotion that offered a free pair of prescription sunglasses to everyone who took a hearing test. The Andersons would then (fraudulently) diagnose the patients with mild hearing loss and require them to sign orders to submit insurance claims for the hearing aids and prescription sunglasses. Of course, Blue Cross Blue Shield took on most of the financial burden. The patients did not really need the hearing aids, and the Andersons often failed to complete the insurance company’s required protocols for hearing tests. The patients also were not in desperate need of the glasses; many times, they only ordered new glasses when they did because of the opportunity to get them free of charge. Meanwhile, Terry and Rocky Anderson profited from every order. They even sought out employees of American Airlines because the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans available to those employees allowed them to purchase hearing aids frequently and at high prices.
From there, the Andersons grew more audacious with their scam. They billed the insurance company for hearing aids for at least 100 patients who never received the devices. They even falsified some medical records and forged patients’ signatures. Therefore, identity theft was among the charges they faced.
Contact Madrid Law About Cases of Fraud and Identity Theft
If you are facing charges for a financial crime, you need the services of a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer. Contact Madrid Law in Houston to discuss your case.
