Indian-American convicted of healthcare fraud in Saratoga, California

- ADVERTISEMENT -

An Indian-American woman from Saratoga, California, and another man, have been convicted on numerous charges of healthcare fraud.

Vilasini Ganesh, head of Campbell Medical Group, was convicted of 10 health care fraud and false statements relating to health care matters, Dec. 14, according to a press release from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for Northern California. Gregory Belcher was convicted of one count of making false statements relating to health care matters

A federal jury convicted the two after an eight-week jury trial before the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Court Judge.

The jury found Ganesh, 47, of Saratoga, guilty of five counts of health care fraud and five counts of making false statements relating to claims fraudulently submitted to health care benefit programs.  Belcher, 56, also of Saratoga, was found guilty of one count of making a false statement relating to a health care benefit program.  The defendants were acquitted of conspiracy and money laundering counts, and Belcher was also acquitted of four other health care fraud counts and one other count of making a false statement relating to a health care benefit program.

Evidence at trial showed that Ganesh submitted false and fraudulent claims to several health care benefit programs, the press release said. The claims were for days when the patient had not been seen by the provider, or when patients had been seen by another physician provider who was no longer affiliated with her practice.

Ganesh is currently out of custody, on a $350,000 bond. Belcher is also out of custody on a bond of  250,000.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 4 next year.  The maximum statutory penalty varies from 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine plus restitution to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine plus restitution.