A federal judge sentenced Samuel Curtis III, of Houston, Texas, to 38 months in prison for his organization and leadership of a scheme that defrauded Medicare of more than $250,000. Curtis, who had submitted false claims from Preferred Prosthetics and Orthotics, Brunswick, Georgia, and Team Orthotics and Prosthetics, Houston, had pleaded guilty in July to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud.
Because he cooperated in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) investigation, the government agreed to a 38-month sentence rather than the minimum 46 months recommended in advisory federal sentencing guidelines.
In addition to prison, U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced Curtis to repay $254,750.94 to HHS and serve three years of probation. She dismissed eight other counts as part of his plea agreement.
Curtis’ longtime friend, office manager, and co-conspirator Cecil Risher of Brunswick was sentenced earlier to probation because of his extensive help in the investigation. He must split payment of $64,213 of the total restitution with Curtis and perform 125 hours of community service.
Another of the co-defendants, Birdie Leroy Revis of Houston, pleaded guilty August 5 in U.S. District Court in Houston to conspiring to violate the anti-kickback statute. A marketer and recruiter for Sefan Health Services, Houston, Revis faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
