Pastor Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Medicare Of More Than $11M
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Los Angeles-area pastor has pleaded guilty to conspiring with doctors, shady clinic operators and others to defraud Medicare of more than $11 million.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer says 58-year-old Charles Agbu, of Carson, pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of conspiracy to commit health fraud and money laundering.
Prosecutors said Agbu and his co-conspirators submitted nearly $11 million in false claims to Medicare and received nearly $5.8 million on those claims. Some of the claims dealt with expensive medical equipment, such as power wheelchairs.
Agbu, a pastor at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Los Angeles, faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine at sentencing on May 16, 2013.
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