TRENTON
- Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L.
McKoy announced that the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
has obtained a State Grand Jury indictment
charging an Essex County businessman and
his Hudson County corporation for allegedly
over-billing the Medicaid Program by more
than $33,800 for more expensive medical
supplies than they actually provided.
The Medicaid Program, which is funded
by the state and federal governments,
provides health care services and prescription
drugs to persons who may not otherwise
be able to afford such services and medicines.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden Brown, Julio Anthony Munoz,
40, Normal Avenue, Upper Montclair, Essex
County, and the corporate entity, T-N-T
Medical Supply, Inc., 4911 Bergenline
Avenue, West New York, Hudson County,
were charged with Health Care Claims Fraud
(2nd degree) and Medicaid Fraud (3rd degree).
If convicted, Munoz faces up to 13 years
in state prison and a criminal fine of
up to $160,000. T-N-T Medical Supply,
Inc. faces an additional $160,000 in penalties.
The indictment alleges that between January
2002 and August 2003, Munoz, owner, operator
and controller of T-N-T Medical Supply,
Inc., submitted more than two dozen inflated,
and therefore fraudulent, claims to the
Medicaid Program. An investigation by
the Division of Criminal Justice determined
that Munoz, a Medicaid provider, and his
corporation falsely billed the Medicaid
Program for the most expensive surgical
support stockings provided to Medicaid
patients when, in fact, the least expensive
stocking was provided to the patients.
Surgical stockings are prescribed for
patients who have circulatory and other
related medical conditions. Surgical stockings
can be billed in amounts ranging from
$24 to $120. It is charged that Munoz
falsely billed the Medicaid Program approximately
$33,840.
State Investigator William Rodriguez and
Deputy Attorney General Riza Dagli were
assigned to the investigation. DAG Dagli
represented the Office of Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor before the State Grand Jury.
The indictment, which was handed up to
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Maria
M. Sypek on Oct. 5, is merely an accusation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless
and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.