The FBI Responded To The Alarming Increase In White-Collar Crime A Lawyer Involved In The Scheme Was Filing For Workman's Compensation Insurance Fraud

Asset forfeiture often comes to mind in the context of illegal narcotics investigations. These investigations usually conjure mental images of major drug dealers with connections to drug cartels who have amassed incredible wealth from illegal drug trafficking. Asset forfeiture continues to be used to seize assets and proceeds derived from illegal narcotics trafficking, but the FBI also uses asset forfeiture in white-collar crime cases. These cases range from fraudulent telemarketers who defraud elderly victims out of their life savings, to doctors who submit fraudulent claims for Medicare and Medicaid. The individuals who match these descriptions may be indistinguishable from your next-door neighbor, they may be well educated, and they may already be earning a six figure salary in a legitimate business.

The FBI has responded to the alarming increase in white-collar crime by increasing the number of Agents assigned to white-collar crime investigations, and by placing increased emphasis on asset forfeiture in these investigations. White-collar crimes include Health Care Fraud, Bank Fraud, Government Contract Fraud, and Telemarketing Fraud. Asset forfeiture is incorporated into these investigations to seize and forfeit assets acquired from the criminal activity, to act as a deterrent to others contemplating similar activity, and to compensate victims of the criminal activity. The FBI has been very successful in incorporating asset forfeiture into white-collar crime investigations.

An owner of a clinic, and his office staff, were treating patients from a large warehouse office. He and his office staff were billing Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies for services that were most often not provided to the patients. For example, a lawyer involved in the scheme was filing for workman's compensation insurance on behalf of some of the clinic's patients for services that were not performed. Also, the owner's accountant was in charge of laundering the profits of these fraudulent schemes. They are believed to have made a profit of over $11 million dollars from the fraudulent billing schemes.