Van Nuys Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Medicare Fraud Case

A Van Nuys man who ran a medical equipment supply company was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for conspiring to submit nearly $1 million in phony claims to Medicare.

Tigran Aklyan, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, who also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after his release from prison and pay about $653,500 in restitution.

Aklyan, the former owner and president of San Gabriel-based Las Tunas supply company, pleaded guilty in April in Los Angeles federal court to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

In his plea agreement, Aklyan admitted that he and others provided medically unnecessary power wheelchairs and other expensive equipment to Medicare beneficiaries and submitted fraudulent claims to the national health care program.

Aklyan also acknowledged bribing owners and operators of fake medical clinics to provide him with prescriptions and supporting documentation for equipment billed to Medicare, according to federal prosecutors.

According to the plea document, Aklyan knew it was illegal for him to pay for prescriptions, but did so anyway.

From December 2007 through February 2009, Aklyan's company submitted nearly $1 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, receiving about $653,500 on those claims, prosecutors said.

—from City News Service