A local businessman will be doing deals in federal prison for the next 27 years, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Daniel Thomason Smith, 55, was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison today for ripping off Medicare and Medicaid to the tune of nearly $3.5 million.
Smith, who ran DTS Medical Supply was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, aiding and abetting health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors say Smith would recruit patients who didn't need wheelchairs and would file claims with Medicare and Medicaid for powered wheelchairs for them.
He would rip off the names of doctors and claim on the forms that they had authorized the wheelchairs.In most cases, the doctors had never examined, and didn't know the patients, and had no idea that the patients even existed.
Smith would also deliver a far less expensive powered scooter instead of a wheelchair to the customers.
Smith also has to repay the federal government $3.2 million, just as soon as he gets out of prison--in 2044.
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