Connecticut dentist pleads guilty to violating federal anti-kickback law

Lakshmi Bethi, 48, of South Windsor, Connecticut, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty September 4, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven, Conn., to conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and senior officials of the FBI, Department of Health and Human Service, made the announcement September 5.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Bethi has been a licensed dentist in Connecticut since 2013 and has owned dental practices in New Haven and North Haven.

In pleading guilty, Bethi admitted that she conspired with multiple individuals, including Jeffrey Malave, who agreed to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries to attend dental appointments with Bethi for dental services that she then billed to Connecticut Medicaid, the press release from the US Attorney’s Office said.

In exchange, Bethi agreed to pay kickbacks to the recruiters, who then passed on a portion of the kickbacks to the patients as an incentive to attend the dental appointments.

Between 2016 and 2023, Bethi paid the patient recruiters more than $360,000 in kickbacks, and Connecticut Medicaid reimbursed Bethi approximately $2.2 million for services rendered to patients recruited via kickbacks, the press release revealed.

Conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickbacks statute carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  As part of her plea, Bethi has agreed to forfeit $500,000.

Bethi is released on bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

Malave, 48, of Shelton, pleaded guilty to related charges on February 28, 2024, and awaits sentencing.

The investigation revealed that Malave also recruited Medicaid patients for other dentists and dental practices. 

The US Attorney’s Office said people who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.