TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced
that a Camden County businessman who owns
and operates a chiropractic clinic and
two medical service and supply companies
has been charged by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
with concocting a multi-corporation conspiracy
designed to bilk insurance companies out
of thousands of dollars through the submission
of fraudulent claims for medical services
and supplies provided to accident victims
-- patients often secured by the use of
“runners.”
According to Vaughn L. McKoy, Director,
Division of Criminal Justice and Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Orlando
Rolon, 49, Central Avenue, Runnemede and
his purported girlfriend Erika Ramos,
31, Frosthoffer Avenue, Pennsauken, Camden
County, were charged via a State Grand
Jury indictment with conspiracy, Criminal
Use of Runners, Health Care Claims Fraud,
attempted theft by deception, and misconduct
by a corporate official. The indictment
also charged Ramos with two counts of
uttering a forged document. Second degree
crimes carry a maximum penalty of up to
ten years in state prison and a fine of
up to $150,000. A third degree crime carries
a maximum penalty of up to five years
in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000,
while a fourth degree crime carries a
maximum penalty of up to 18 months in
state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The defendants also face possible civil
insurance fraud fines pursuant to the
Insurance Fraud Prevention Act.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Brown, the indictment alleges that between
Dec. 11, 1998 and Feb. 13, 2002, Rolon
and Ramos participated in a conspiracy
to fraudulently bill insurance companies
nearly $135,000 for medical treatments,
supplies, and transportation services
provided to patients injured in automobile
accidents. It is charged that Rolon created
a system of companies that provided medical
treatments, supplies, and transportation
services. The Rolon-owned companies are
identified as Camden County-based Brotherhood
Rehabilitation Associates, P.C., a chiropractic
treatment center located at 3422 Westfield
Ave. (business offices located at 145
N. 34th St., Camden); JOL&M Medical
Supply Company, 1099 Route 73 South, Berlin;
and OR Medical Transport, 145 N. 34th
St., Camden.
The indictment alleges that Rolon, who
had no medical or chiropractic license,
created the appearance that a licensed
chiropractor actually owned, operated
and controlled the Brotherhood clinic
in order to submit insurance claims for
payment. It is alleged that Ramos, employed
at the Brotherhood clinic, was listed
as the owner/operator of JOL&M Medical
Supply so that it would appear to insurance
companies that JOL&M Medical Supply
was independent from the Brotherhood,
when, in fact, the company was owned,
operated, and controlled by Rolon.
The indictment charges that Rolon used
“runners” to solicit accident
victims in order to ensure a steady stream
of patients for the Brotherhood clinic
which provided chiropractic treatments,
physical therapy, and other medical services
to patients injured in automobile accidents.
As part of the insurance fraud, it is
alleged that Rolon listed chiropractor
Dr. Michael Marek as the owner of the
clinic and that Marek made medical decisions
with respect to Brotherhood patients and
signed claims forms submitted to the insurance
companies when, in fact, Marek was deceased.
Additionally, it is charged that Rolon
and the “runners” attracted
patients to the Brotherhood clinic by
offering payments of between $200 to $300.
It is also alleged that some of the patients
solicited by the “runners”
purchased medical supplies (such as TENS
Units used to treat soft tissue injuries
of persons injured in auto accidents)
from JOL&M Medical Supply Company
as part of their treatment and that OR
Medical Transport was used to transport
patients to and from the Brotherhood clinic
and other Rolon-controlled locations.
In addition to the criminal use of runners,
it is alleged that Rolon and Ramos committed
Health Care Claims Fraud by submitting
false claims to Liberty Mutual and AIG
Insurance Companies. The investigation
determined that the Brotherhood clinic
billed Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
and AIG Insurance Company approximately
$134,922 for automobile insurance PIP
claims. The companies paid the Brotherhood
$32,956.
The indictment was handed up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg,
the Assignment Judge in charge of the
State Grand Jury, on Dec. 2. The case
will be assigned to Camden County Superior
Court for trial. The defendants will be
ordered to appear in Court to answer the
charges on a date to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor which investigates
and prosecutes civil and criminal insurance
fraud cases. State Investigator Weldon
Powell, Civil Investigator Shawn Stewart,
and Supervising Deputy Attorney General
Norma R. Evans were assigned to the investigation.
DAG Evans represented the State before
the State Grand Jury.
An indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendants are presumed to be innocent
of the charges unless and until proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.