Law Enforcement | WPN World People News

A major U.S. hospital service provider, TeamHealth Holdings, as successor in interest to IPC Healthcare Inc., f/k/a IPC The Hospitalists Inc. (IPC), has agreed to resolve allegations that IPC violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare, Medicaid, the Defense Health Agency and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for higher and more expensive levels of medical service than were actually performed (a practice known as “up-coding”), the Department of Justice announced on February 6. Under the settlement agreement, TeamHealth has agreed to pay $60 million, plus interest.

A U.S. man residing in Costa Rica on February 2 pleaded guilty for his role in two separate schemes. One scheme was a $10 million “sweepstakes scheme” that targeted elderly U.S. residents, and the other was a $2.5 million high-yield investment fraud scheme, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose of the Western District of North Carolina.

A Lauderhill, Florida tax return preparation business, and several of its corporate officers, on February 1, prepare false tax returns for their customers, according to a new civil lawsuit filed by the Justice Department.

An Atlanta, on January 31, Georgia based tax return preparer was sentenced to 150 months in prison for filing tax returns fraudulently claiming more than $20 million in refunds, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John A. Horn for the Northern District of Georgia.

During the 10 days of festivities leading up to Super Bowl LI on February 5, the FBI will be working closely with the Houston Police Department and other local, state, and federal agencies to keep the city safe. At the Houston Emergency Center, a command post will monitor and coordinate law enforcement and public safety activities.

Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, 20, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on January 30 to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure.

On January 27, rights groups demanded government records concerning the controversial fiscal control board established under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). The Center for Constitutional Rights and Latino Justice/PRLDEF joined with the San Juan-based Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI) to request records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

A former Queens, on January 24, New York return preparer pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

A former Poplar Grove, Illinois woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford, on January 24, Illinois to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon for the Northern District of Illinois.