Bay City Vascular Surgeon Charged In Connection With $60 Million Health Care Fraud & Laundering More

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https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/bay-city-vascular-surgeon-charged-connection-60-million-health-care-fraud-laundering

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Offce
Eastern District of Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Bay City Vascular Surgeon Charged In Connection With $60 Million Health Care Fraud & Laundering More Than $49 Million Government Seeks Forfeiture Of Approximately $39.9 Million Seized From Defendant

An indictment unsealed today charges Dr. Vasso Godiali, age 56, vascular surgeon, with orchestrating a $60 million health care fraud scheme. Dr. Godiali is also charged with money laundering, for financial transactions involving approximately $49 million in proceeds he derived from the scheme. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
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According to the Indictment, Godiali submitted false and fraudulent claims for the placement of stents in dialysis patients and for the treatment of arterial blood clots. The indictment further alleges that Godiali exploited medical billing software to improperly maximize payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The indictment further alleges Godiali submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicaid, Medicare, and Blue Cross for services not rendered and that he “unbundled” claims by exploiting modifier-59 to falsely claim he was performing many separate and distinct procedures, when in fact he was entitled to a single reimbursement for a single procedure.

The indictment further alleges that Godiali utilized six corporations through which he laundered approximately $49 million, which he ultimately used to fund investment accounts at multiple financial institutions. In addition, the Indictment alleges that he engaged in money laundering by using proceeds from his scheme to pay property taxes on a Houghton Lake, Michigan, residence.
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The United States Attorney’s Office also filed a related civil lawsuit seeking the forfeiture of approximately $39.9 million seized from accounts controlled by the defendant or related to four separate real estate transactions.