After a seven-day trial in federal court in Los Angeles, a jury found Ronald Luis Bradshaw, 59, guilty on all charged counts, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, multiple counts of health fraud and aggravated identity theft for prescribing medically unnecessary durable medical equipment to hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries under the stolen identity of a doctor.

“At the core of Medicare fraud schemes, individuals place personal greed above providing legitimate medical care. In this case, the defendant not only defrauded the Medicare program, he also stole the identification of a doctor to do it” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. “The jury’s conviction sends a message to health care providers committing Medicare fraud – American taxpayers will not tolerate abuse of a program intended to benefit the elderly and disabled.”

“Fraud against public health care programs not only robs taxpayers but also adversely affects millions of legitimate patients in need of the services and equipment to improve their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien. “For years we have pursued fraudsters who attempt to exploit the health care system for their own personal gain. Now, we have another example of an unscrupulous provider being brought to justice.”

“Today’s conviction is another milestone for our Medicare Fraud Strike Force here in Los Angeles,” said Glenn R. Ferry, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health of Human Services. “Our collaborative partnership under the HEAT initiative is getting concrete results as we continue our efforts to combat health care fraud on behalf of the American people.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, Bradshaw worked as a licensed physician assistant at a Los Angeles clinic, Glenmountain Medical Group (Glenmountain), allegedly under the supervision of a doctor. Evidence at trial established that from approximately April 2005 to April 2008, Bradshaw prescribed hundreds of motorized wheelchairs and custom-fitted orthotics to Medicare beneficiaries under the apparent authority and supervision of a doctor. Bradshaw also ordered diagnostic tests for these beneficiaries under the same doctor’s apparent authority...