Troy Brothers Indicted For Health Care Fraud

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael VonFricken and John VonFricken were indicted separately for obtaining false receipts for orthodontic services and submitting them to their union’s health care plan, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

Both defendants were arraigned on November 3, 2015 in Albany, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and released pending a trial scheduled for January 4, 2016 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.

John VonFricken, age 55, of Troy, New York, is charged with health care fraud for obtaining $54,600 in reimbursements from the Health and Welfare Plan of the Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local Union Number 7.

Michael VonFricken, age 44, of Troy, is charged with health care fraud for obtaining $32,732 in reimbursements from the Health and Welfare Plan of the Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local Union Number 7.

The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Coffman and Solomon B. Shinerock.