Valdosta Dentist Enters Guilty Plea To Health Care Fraud

G.F. Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Dr. Stanley B. Marable, DDS, age 55, a dentist from Valdosta, Georgia, pled guilty in United States District Court in Valdosta, Georgia to one count of Health Care Fraud.  Dr. Marable faces a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. 

Facts stipulated in the written plea agreement show the following: 

Dr. Marable was a general practice dentist in Valdosta who treated some patients whose claims were reimbursed through Medicaid payments from the State of Georgia.  In 2012, at the request of the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Medical Assistance (DCH), an audit was performed by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (DOOA).  During the audit, several billing irregularities were discovered.  Further investigation by the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that from January 2011 through September 30, 2013, Dr. Marable had was paid for 3,145 claims for the extraction of teeth and received Medicaid payments for these extractions totally more than $789,000.00.  The investigation of the claims, however, revealed that Dr. Marable had not extracted the teeth from many of the patients for whom claims of reimbursement had been submitted.  Several patients had never had any teeth extracted including one individual who did not even know Dr. Marable was a dentist.

U.S. Attorney Peterman stated:  "Dr. Marable violated not only the trust placed in him as a practitioner of the healing arts, he blatantly lied to and stole from the tax paying public solely for his personal enrichment.  His fraud was uncovered through diligent investigation by the Georgia Attorney General's Office – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Georgia Department of Community Health – Office of Inspector General.  The resulting prosecution is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through state and federal cooperation."

"Dr. Marable's actions are inexcusable and clearly warranted the actions taken," said Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens.  "My office continues to combat Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse through prosecutions like these."

As part of his plea agreement, Dr. Marable has agreed to pay a total of $789,841.00 in restitution to the Georgia Medicaid Program.

Sentencing for Dr. Marable has been scheduled for February 8, 2017.  

The case was investigated by the Georgia Medicare Fraud Control Unit and Georgia Department of Community Health – Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sonja Profit and Tamara Jarrett and Georgia Assistant Attorney General James Mooney.

For additional information please contact Pamela Lightsey, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.