PARSIPPANY RED HAWKS LAST SEASON: Parsippany finished with a 15-7 overall record. It reached the semifinal round of the North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 tournament, where it lost to Lenape Valley. CONFERENCE AND CLASSIFICATION: Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference-Liberty Division; North 2, Group 2. HEAD COACH: Joe Dasti, second year. TOP WRESTLERS BACK: Seniors Mike Ilic,…
Parsippany wrestling preview, 2016-17
Morris County Crime Stoppers celebrates 31st Annual Holiday Fundraiser
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Crime Stoppers celebrated its 31st Annual Holiday Fundraiser on Monday, December 12 at Birchwood Manor.
Proceeds from the event are used to fund anonymous tips received and forwarded to local police departments.
Detective Sergeant Paul Kosakowski and the Madison Police Department’s Bureau of Investigation received the Morris County Sheriff’s “Leaping Leo” Award for their extensive use of the program. The plaque presented “Professionalism and Creativity in the use of the Crime Stopper Programs to solve Crimes and Make Arrests.”
“This recognition shows how working together through programs such as CrimeStoppers our police department not only serves Madison but also supports the county law enforcement efforts,” said Mayor Robert Conley.
“Madison detectives received seven tips, four follow up tips and released three ‘Crimes of the Week’ publications,” said Chief Darren Dachisen.
For more information on Morris County Crime Stoppers click here.
Druid Hill Drive resident robbed of furnace parts
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center was contacted by a resident on Druid Hill Drive at 7:23 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 reporting a burglary to his residence.
Upon arrival of Patrol Sergeant Daniel Conte and Officer W. Torres-Czajka, they spoke to the victim who advised them that an unknown suspect(s) broke into his house.
After a brief investigation it was determined that the unknown suspect(s) forced entry into the residence through a rear door and stolen multiple parts to the victim’s furnace, rendering it inoperable.
This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
Driver fails to maintain lane; charged with DWI
PARSIPPANY — While patrolling in the area of Route 46 West and Cherry Hill Road, on Friday, November 25, at 11:27 p.m., Patrol Officer J. Hughes observed a 2004 Toyota Camry fail to maintain its lane and cross over into the shoulder of the roadway.
He also observed the vehicle to be driving at various speeds above and below the posted speed limit.
Patrol Officer J. Hughes initiated a motor vehicle stop and spoke to the driver, Maureen Babb, 52, Morris Plains.
After a brief investigation Mrs. Babb was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated and transported back to Parsippany Police Headquarters for processing.
While at Police Headquarters Mrs. Babb was issued the following summonses: Driving While Intoxicated, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Reckless Driving. She was released on her own recognizance into the custody of a sober adult pending her court date.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Friends of Lake Hiawatha sponsored “Snowflake Festival”
PARSIPPANY — The Friends of Lake Hiawatha sponsored their annual Snowflake Festival on Friday, December 9 at the gazebo on Beverwyck Road. The evening included Santa arriving on a fire truck, hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and lots of pictures with Santa.
Local Girl Scout troops provided the entertainment for the evening. Troop # 96197 from Lake Hiawatha School, Troop # 96623 from Knollwood School, Troop # 96703 from Mount Tabor School, Troop # 96229 from Central Middle School and Troop # 96134 from Rockaway Meadow School sang holiday songs.
A girl and boy’s 20 inch bicycles were donated to the winning ticket. The lucky winners were Ava and Hannah Amerman-McGrath from Mt. Tabor and Ryan Yekel.
The evening was a great success and enjoyed by all. A special thanks to the Friends of Lake Hiawatha committee including, Antoinette Piccolo-Simmons, Carol Greco, John Pascarella and Rene Bellott. And a special thanks to Mark Krevis, the Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department and the Parsippany Police Department for keeping everyone safe.
PHHS Girls Soccer Team celebrated with a motorcade throughout Lake Parsippany
PARSIPPANY — On Saturday afternoon, December 10, The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills celebrated the Parsippany Hills Girls Soccer Team as 2016 State Soccer Champions, and first-time soccer champions for Parsippany with a motorcade route that started at the High School, continued down Littleton Road, onto Halsey Road and a tour of Lake Parsippany.
The motorcade stopped at Drewes Beach for some picture taking, and returned back to the High School to receive “Outstanding Achievement Awards” presented by Mayor James Barberio and then they enjoyed a piece of the celebration cake.
The Parsippany Hills High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team are the North II, Group II Section Champs. They played their winning game on November 19 against Haddonfield in the NJSIAA final at Kean University.
Their overall 2016 record was 10-12-1.
Four New Associates Mark Continued Growth for Colliers’ Team
PARSIPPANY — The addition of four new associates in Parsippany and Princeton marks the continued expansion of Colliers International Group Inc. in New Jersey. These young professionals, all recent college graduates cite the global commercial brokerage firm’s reputation, mentorship and training, and professional growth opportunities as primary reasons for choosing Colliers to launch their careers.
Based in Princeton, Patrick Norris specializes in office tenant and landlord representation under the direction of Romano.
A Cherry Hill resident, Norris previously interned for Stoltz Real Estate Partners, KW Commercial, and The O’Donnell Group.
A member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Norris earned a bachelor of business administration degree in Real Estate from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
Stephen Graziano, based in Parsippany, specializes in office tenant and landlord representation under the direction of Bryn Cinque and James Bailey. A Mendham, resident, Graziano previously learned about construction project management and performed property demolition and pre-construction preparation for Harrington Construction. He also gained experience in direct marketing and business-to-business sales at Blumarc, a sales and marketing outsourcing company. Graziano earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from Providence College.
Brett Incollingo, a resident of Yardley, PA, focuses on office tenant and landlord office representation. Based in Princeton, he works closely with Executive Managing Director Thomas Romano. Prior to joining Colliers, Brett worked for Credit Suisse as a business analyst and interned at Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. He graduated with honors from Stevens Institute of Technology, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business and Technology.
Troy Skibitsky of Westfield, specializes in industrial tenant and landlord representation and works closely with Michael Markey and Jonathan Tesser in Colliers’ Princeton office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from The College of New Jersey School of Business.
“Colliers offers a terrific platform for motivated individuals like Stephen, Brett, Patrick and Troy,” says David A. Simon, SIOR, executive managing director and New Jersey market leader. “Teaming with seasoned professionals is the key to their success and enables our associates to learn from experienced individuals while utilizing our resources. Together, this provides an essential foundation for someone new to the industry.”
Retriever mix abandoned in Taco Bell parking lot
PARSIPPANY — Davey is a 11/2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever mix in the care of Wise Animal Rescue. He was abandoned in a Taco Bell parking lot by individuals who were seen speeding away. Currently in foster care, Davey gets along well with the dog in his temporary home, but he hasn’t been tested with cats. Davey,…
Rabbi Gold continues Temple Beth Am’s Third Friday Speaker Series
PARSIPPANY — Temple Beth Am’s popular Third Friday speaker series continues with Rabbi Neal Gold, a leader in the Association of Reform Zionists of America (AZRA).
Rabbi Gold will share his valuable insights as a scholar, teacher and social activist in discussing the “Head, Heart and Hands: The Integrated Jewish Soul.”
His teaching is inspired by of the beauty of Jewish texts and uses the text and tradition as a means of transforming the world. This event will be held on Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear him speak. The program is free and open to the public. Rabbi Gold currently serves as program and content director of ARZA, dedicated to strengthening the reform movement in Israel and strengthening Zionism within the US Reform community. Rabbi Gold has lived, worked and taught in Israel and for over 18 years has served congregations in New Jersey and Massachusetts. In 2016, he became the first in-house scholar-in-residence for Jewish Family Service of Metrowest.
Mount Olive Man Receives Additional Charges pimping out teenagers
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations John Speirs, Chief of Police Stephen Beecher of the Mount Olive Police Department, and Chief of Police Jeffrey Almer of the Washington Township Police Department announce additional charges against Michael Keenan of Mount Olive who was arrested for Human Trafficking.
On December 8, 2016, Keenan, 23, was arrested and charged with one count of Human Trafficking, in violation of N.J.S 2C:13-8(a)3, a crime of the first degree, one count of Promoting Prostitution, in violation of N.J.S 2C:34-1b(3), a crime of the first degree, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:24-4(a)1, a crime of the third degree.
Keenan had previously been charged with Human Trafficking and Promoting Prostitution on November 23, 2016 for acts involving a 17 year old female. During the course of that investigation, detectives learned of an additional 17 year old victim. The second victim reported that Mr. Keenan drove her to hotels in the Township of Mount Olive to engage in prostitution and would then collect a portion of the proceeds for himself.
Bail was set for Mr. Keenan by the Honorable Catherine Enright at $250,000 with a no 10% option.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Washington Township Police Department, Mount Olive Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit for their joint efforts regarding this investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective/Supervisor Marshall Wang of the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.
Gary Huffman charged with Insurance Fraud
PARSIPPANY — Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of Gary E. Huffman, 42, 1100 Parsippany Boulevard on charges of Insurance Fraud and Theft by Deception. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
On March 30 the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that Huffman had been working for an electrical company while receiving worker’s compensation insurance payments from an injury he sustained while working for a different employer.
An investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit revealed that Huffman was injured in April 2015.
He had filed for temporary disability and worker’s compensation benefits and began receiving the insurance payments shortly thereafter.
In August 2015, Huffman began working for the new company and received cash payments for the work. The worker’s compensation payments only ended when it was determined that HUFFMAN was working in violation of his disability status.
As a result of the investigation, Huffman was charged on December 8, 2016 with one count of Insurance Fraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4-6a, a third degree crime, and one count of Theft by Deception, N.J.S.A. 2C: 20-4, a third degree crime. Huffman is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court for a first appearance on Wednesday, December 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Road rage turns into robbery and arrest
PARSIPPANY — On Monday, December 5 at 8:51 p.m. The Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center received a 911 call reporting a fight in progress in the parking lot of 1004 Tabor Road.
Upon arrival of responding Officers, they spoke to the 27 year old male victim, who advised them that he was involved in a road rage type incident while driving on Route 80 with another vehicle.
The victim alleged that the vehicle then followed him into the parking lot 1004 Tabor Road where the driver, later identified as Corey Condon, 30, Wayne, began yelling at him and then began striking him in the head with his fist.
During the assault the victim’s sweatshirt, which contained personal items, came off, which was then allegedly taken by Mr. Condon as he fled the scene in his vehicle.
The victim refused any medical attention.
Patrol Officer J. Hughes spoke to Parsippany Municipal Judge Scala who authorized the issuance of a warrant for Mr. Condon’s arrest for Robbery. On Thursday, December 8, Mr. Condon responded to Parsippany Police Headquarters and turned himself in.
He was placed under arrest, processed, and released on $5,000.00 bail with no 10% option pending his court date.
One car crash on North Beverwyck Road knocks down utility pole
PARSIPPANY — Mr. Janardan Lamichhane, 46, Parsippany, was traveling north on North Beverwyck Road and veered off the road, onto the curb and crashed into a utility pole. The pole was broken in half causing electrical wires to fall onto the roadway.
Mr. Lamichhane stated that while he was traveling he believed to have seen a dark shadow in the road which caused him to veer off the roadway.
He was driving a 2017 Hyundai Sonata, which was towed from the scene by Corrigliano Towing. This accident occurred on Wednesday, December 7 at 9:55 p.m.
Jersey Central Power and Light was called to replace the pole.
Mr. Lamichhane was charged with careless driving.
DWI arrest on North Beverwyck Road
PARSIPPANY — While patrolling in the area of North Beverwyck Road and Vail Road, Patrol Officers J. Williams and S. Baker observed a 2006 Volkswagen Passat fail to maintain its lane and drift across the lane markings onto the shoulder of the roadway. This incident occurred at 1:26 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22.
The Officers then initiated a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle on Rockaway Place.
The Officers made contact with the driver, Edreece Saleh, 23, Parsippany.
After a brief investigation, Mr. Saleh was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated and transported back to Parsippany Police Headquarters.
While at Police Headquarters he was processed, and issued the following summonses: Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane. Mr. Saleh was released on his own recognizance into the custody of a sober adult pending his court date.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fox Hill Road Closed today for construction
PARSIPPANY — Fox Hill Road will be CLOSED between Watts Avenue and Country Lane until 4:00 p.m. today. The road will be impassable due to road construction. You will not be able to get from Route 46 (in Mountain Lakes) to Route 53 via Fox Hill Road or Route 53 to Route 46 (in Mountain Lakes) via Fox Hill Road during the closure.
Liberty Office Suites Announces New Shared Office and Coworking Space
PARSIPPANY — Business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers now have more options to rent office space in New Jersey with the opening of Liberty Office Suites’ new Parsippany location.
Liberty Office Suites’ Parsippany center, located on the third floor of 181 New Road, is expected to open in mid-January 2017. At around 15,000 square feet, the location will be home to 40 private offices, four conference rooms, and one large training room.
“For years, clients have enjoyed the benefits of coming to work at Liberty Office Suites’ Montville location, with all the advantages of a well-appointed office space without the high cost,” says Ron Soussa of Liberty Office Suites. “Now we can make even more clients happy with the addition of our new office space in Parsippany, New Jersey.”
What sets Liberty Office Suites apart are the additional amenities provided to clients. This includes valet dry cleaning service, food delivery prepared by Kettlebell Kitchen, and sheltered parking.
“We’re also bringing something new to the Parsippany location,” continues Soussa. “One new feature will be larger, furnished suites – with phone and WiFi – capable of accommodating teams of up to 25 people in a true co-working environment.”
An intangible benefit of renting shared office space are the connections made with other people. Through connections made at Liberty Office Suites, people have been able to cultivate friendships and professional relationships that can last a lifetime.
“Our team will do our very best to cultivate the same atmosphere at our Parsippany location that you can find at our Montville location,” says Soussa. “Clients keep coming back to Liberty Office Suites because of the family atmosphere that exists, with spur of the moment gatherings, access to the kitchen for coffee, or a chat with an office neighbor all helping to facilitate valuable connections.”
Clients of Liberty Office Suites’ Montville location will be able to make an easy transition to the new Parsippany location, if they find that address to be more convenient.
If you would like to know more about office space for rent in New Jersey at our new Parsippany location, call (973) 265-2900.
PHS is accepting Hall of Fame nominations
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany High School is accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame. The PHS Hall of Fame recognizes and honors PHS graduates and staff members who have distinguished themselves during their time at PHS and/or in their careers in their fields of work or service. Recognition will be given but not limited to accomplishment in the fields of: Music, School Services, Fine Arts, Medicine, Business, Journalism, Politics, Athletics, Education, Science, Armed Forces, Community Service.
The person being nominated must have graduated from PHS at least ten years ago (2007 or earlier). In the case of a staff member, the nominee must have been a member of the professional staff (including non-teacher coaches and activity advisors), who has retired or left the employ of Parsippany High School at least three years ago (prior to 2014).
The person being nominated DOES NOT have to be a college graduate. Posthumous nominations WILL BE accepted. As many as ten nominees may be inducted in any given year.
Nominees selected for induction into the PHS Hall of Fame will be honored at an annual ceremony held in the winter and at a home basketball game (date to be determined). Each inductee will receive an engraved memento and will be recognized on a perpetual plaque in the main hall of Parsippany High School. Nominations may be submitted by any Parsippany High School graduate or by a relative, friend, or co-worker of the person being nominated. The committee evaluates each nominee on three criteria:
1. Recognized excellence in one’s field/profession
2. Service and dedication to Parsippany High School
3. Contributions to professional/civic organizations and/or publications, presentations, and recognition
Nomination forms can be found on the PHS website by clicking here. Be sure to include all requested information. Reasons for nomination and written description may be submitted on separate sheets of paper (not to exceed three sheets and must be stapled to the nomination form). Parsippany High School Hall of Fame 309 Baldwin Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
All forms are due by January 6, 2017 c/o Dr. Mulroony.
Million Dollar Search Terms Disclosed: Political Retaliation?
PARSIPPANY — Another incident like Bridgegate? This time it may be in Parsippany. Parsippany Focus has obtained a tort claim notice filed by retired Police Captain James Carifi through an open public records request (OPRA). This tort claim notice was filed on September 30, 2016.
The tort claim notice lists specific “Client Supplied Keywords” Township attorney John Inglesino and Mayor James Barberio developed and provided to Aurora Information & Security hired to investigate Captain Carifi.
Aurora Information & Security was hired by Mayor James Barberio, without the consent of the Township Council. According to the local finance laws, when municipalities hire for professional services, Council approval is required. Township Council members were not told of Aurora’s hiring until five months later, days after Mayor Barberio defeated Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. in a hotly contested primary for mayor. (Refer to attached email requesting minutes and resolutions of hiring of Aurora.)
Ironically, the hiring of Aurora was authorized by Mayor Barberio the day after Paul Carifi Jr. announced his candidacy for Mayor on Monday, January 14, 2013 and the two days after the Sunday night meeting at Townhall where Council President Louis Valori had accused Barberio and Inglesino of bribing him with a job offer. (See Consent to Hire Technical Security Consultant for Litigation Purposes).
According to the tort claim filed, the 29 “Client Supplied Keywords” are as follows: James Carifi, Paul Carifi, Election, Contribution, Funds, ELEC (Which stands for Election Law Enforcement Commission), Clerk, Yancy Wazirmas, Jasmine Lim, Elesha Johnson, Board of Elections, Poll, Republican Party, Ballot, Absentee Ballot, Board of Education, Township Council, Mayor, James Barberio, Louis Valori, Robert Peluso, Brian Stanton, Vincent Ferrara, Michael dePierro, Jonathan Nelson, James Vigilante, Robert Colangelo, Daniel Margotta and Bentley. (Click here to see the tort claim document search terms)
(Editors Note: Republicans Robert Peluso and Louis Valori announced they were running for a Council seat shortly thereafter. Brian Stanton, was the Township Council President at the time. Michael dePierro and Vincent Ferrara were Councilmen. Jonathan Nelson, a Democrat, was planning on running for Mayor against the Republican candidate. James Vigilante, now deceased, a former Councilman ran unsuccessfully for Morris County Clerk.)
If that’s not startling enough, in a shocking revelation Aurora then provides an additional four “Suggested Keyword Searches” they would like to search on Captain Carifi’s computer, which Barberio and Inglesino ultimately approved. Those four search terms were as follows: Carifi, Campaign, Paul and “campaign and mayor.” This all took place just a few months before the primary election between Paul Carifi Jr. and James Barberio in 2013. (Click here to see Aurora Suggested Keyword Search.)
Parsippany Focus previously reported that Aurora Information Security & Risk was recently found liable for fraud by the Second District Court of appeals of New York in addition to being suspended by the State of New Jersey. While they were suspended, they were not allowed to do business with any municipality while suspended, however Mayor Barberio and John Inglesino continued to work with and pay Aurora during this suspension time. The suspension time for Aurora Information Security & Risk as listed by the State of New Jersey was from January 16, 2014 to May 13, 2015. (For Aurora suspension click here)
For the past three years, Mayor Barberio and Mr. Inglesino had stated and maintained the position at council meetings and prepared statements that Parsippany residents were at risk because Captain Carifi copied and deleted information from Parsippany Police Department computers. However, as the search terms are now uncovered, one cannot escape the correlation to Bridgegate. According to the tort claimed filed, No police information or police documents were listed in the search terms as being searched for.
Even more alarming is Aurora’s actual document provided to Mayor Barberio and Mr. Inglesino requesting “Legal Approval” to search “Personal Email Addresses”. Although it is unknown as to whose email addresses Inglesino and Barberio were searching as there are no listed email addresses on Aurora’s document, it does state “Do any specific email accounts come to mind?” The document also indicates that Aurora searched Captain Carifi’s “Web credit card transaction receipts”.
Furthermore, the tort claim notice goes on to identify one of Aurora’s invoices paid by the Township of Parsippany, included a billing entry documenting that Aurora was tasked by Mayor Barberio and Township attorney Inglesino with searching Captain Carifi’s home computer for any political activities.
Requests for comments from Jonathan Nelson, Robert Peluso, Yancy Wazirmas and Elesha Johnson went unanswered.
“Mr. Carifi and my office are limited from commenting freely about his disputes with Parsippany due to a variety of constraints, including confidentiality orders entered for the benefit of the Township in two of the three pending lawsuits. That said, we are anxious to air publicly the facts of this case at the upcoming trial, and believe that the Citizens of Parsippany could be shocked and dismayed by what they learn,” said Christopher Deininger, Partner, Bubb, Grogan & Cocca, representing James Carifi.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Philipps was asked if he participated in the development of the political search terms to be searched for on Captain Carifi’s Parsippany Police computers, but never responded.
Because it has been estimated that the Township has spent over 3.5 million dollars in taxpayer money against Captain Carifi, and that there are so many additional surprising documented facts that are contrary to what Inglesino and Mayor Barberio have portrayed in public within the tort claims notice, Parsippany Focus has decided to title its succeeding articles about this case as Parsippany Gate.
The tort claim notice is a requirement to inform the Township of a potential lawsuit.
Owner of Diagnostic Testing Facility Sued for Submitting False Claims
PARSIPPANY — A Parsippany man and his diagnostic testing company are being sued by the government for knowingly submitting false claims to Medicare for thousands of diagnostic testing services he did not render, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Vijay Patel, 59, of Parsippany, owner and operator of Mobile Diagnostic Testing of NJ LLC of Parsippany, pleaded guilty December 15, 2014, to a criminal information charging him with health care fraud related to this conduct. Today’s civil complaint alleges Vijay Patel violated the False Claims Act.
According to the complaint Patel had an associate who was a cardiologist and also a participant in the Medicare program. From around 2009 through 2012, the cardiologist’s Medicare contractor had placed him on so-called “pre-payment review,” which was initiated to ensure that the doctor was submitting claims within established rules and regulations, and which required him to submit documentation, including medical records, to support the services being billed to Medicare. Under pre-payment review, claims for reimbursement that did not have the documentation necessary to support the services being billed are rejected by the Medicare contractor.
From August 2011 through December 2012, Patel and the cardiologist defrauded Medicare by submitting claims to Medicare for diagnostic testing services that the doctor had performed in December 2010 through September 2012, enabling him to evade Medicare’s pre-payment review. Patel submitted the cardiologist’s claims through his company and his brother’s company, Biosound Medical Services Inc. (Biosound), as if Mobile Diagnostic and Biosound had performed the services instead of the doctor. Once Patel received the Medicare reimbursement money paid to the two companies for diagnostic testing services the cardiologist had performed, Patel transferred a portion of the payment to the doctor and kept a substantial portion for himself.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, New York Region, with the investigation leading to the filing of today’s complaint.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole F. Mastropieri and Bernard J. Cooney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
U.S. Attorney Fishman reorganized the health care fraud practice at the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office shortly after taking office, including creating a stand-alone Health Care and Government Fraud Unit to handle both criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud offenses. Since 2010, the office has recovered more than $1.32 billion in health care fraud and government fraud settlements, judgments, fines, restitution and forfeiture under the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and other statutes.
The case is captioned United States v. Vijay Patel, et al. (D.N.J.). Click here to read a copy of the complaint.