United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN COUNSELOR WHO DEFRAUDED HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS IS SENTENCED

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHEN KNEZEK, 62, of West Rock Avenue, New Haven, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to three years of probation, the first 12 months of which KNEZEK must serve in a halfway house, for defrauding various health insurance programs.  On February 19, 2009, KNEZEK pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, KNEZEK owned and operated a psychotherapy practice located at 291 Whitney Avenue in New Haven.  In pleading guilty, KNEZEK admitted that, between October 2001 and September 2007, he submitted fraudulent claims to Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicaid, and other health insurance programs for psychological counseling sessions.  KNEZEK defrauded the insurance programs in two ways.  First, KNEZEK falsely submitted claims for sessions that, in fact, were not rendered.  Second, although KNEZEK treated patients using group therapy, he billed these sessions as individual sessions, because health insurance companies pay more for individual sessions than for group therapy.

Today, Judge Dorsey ordered KNEZEK to pay restitution in the total amount of $228,386.

This investigation was conducted by special agents from Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Health Care Fraud Task Force.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Sheldon and auditor Susan Spiegel.

Acting United States Attorney Dannehy commended  Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance company for the critical assistance they provided to the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 785-9270 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov