WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports31 charged in South Louisiana in Medicare bust

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Over two dozen healthcare professionals from South Louisiana have been named in a federal investigation involving $250 million dollars in false Medicare claims, including four doctors.

A thick stack of paper represents the fruits of more than three years of investigations by the federal Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  94 people, including 31 from South Louisiana, are facing charges for their alleged involvement in Medicare fraud schemes.

"Of the 31 defendants we have today, all of them are accused of stealing almost $32 million from Medicare by billing for unnecessary and often undelivered power wheelchairs, feeding supplies and orthodic devices," said Mike Fields, Special Agent in Charge with DHH.

Federal agents searched Medical Supplies of Baton Rouge on North Foster Friday afternoon.  Its owners, Thompson Chinwoh and Samuel Johnson are accused of using a Medicare identification number to submit claims for equipment that was medically unnecessary.

The doors at Lobdale Medical Supply, another business named in the indictment, are locked.  Five employees, including owner Young Anyanwu, manager Beatrice Anyanwu and Dr. Stephen Jase are named in the federal lawsuit.

The Anyanwus are accused of offering Medicare patients money to accept power wheelchairs they may not have needed.  Jase is accused of prescribing the medical equipment that was billed to Medicare.

If convicted, the people involved could face up to millions of dollars in fines and more than 100 years in prison.

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