Brooklyn Dentist Admits To Fraud In Medicaid Probe
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York authorities said a Brooklyn dentist pleaded guilty to fraud, admitting he paid recruiters to solicit homeless Medicaid patients with cash.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said dentist Lawrence J. Bruckner of Plainview has also admitted failing to pay taxes on payments he received from other dentists who worked at his clinics.
"This so-called professional was really just using the system, using these Medicaid patients for his own personal profit," DiNapoli told 1010 WINS.
They said the 62-year-old Bruckner is expected to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution and face jail time.
"I think it's a strong message that if you're gonna play these kinds of games, we're gonna find you, we're gonna figure it out and we're gonna bring you justice," DiNapoli said.
Sentencing is set for November in Kings County Court, where his company, Premier Dental PC, entered guilty pleas to grand larceny and violating social services law.
Investigators said Bruckner submitted hundreds of false claims to the Medicaid program.
"There were just some indications of a high volume going into this practice and just caught our attention," DiNapoli said.
A call to his lawyer was not initially returned Monday.
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