Miami Physician Pleads Guilty In Medicare Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, announce today that Christopher Gregory Wayne, an osteopathic physician residing in Miami, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr., to a criminal information that charges him with health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws of the United States. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 16, 2014.

At sentencing, Wayne faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the health care fraud charge. The narcotics charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In his plea, Wayne admitted to executing a scheme to defraud the Medicare program and attempting to cause a loss in excess of $2,500,000 to Medicare. Wayne agreed to the entry of a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $1,649,042, and the forfeiture of real property and a car, representing proceeds traceable to the health care fraud offense. Wayne also agreed to entry of a money judgment in the amount of $428,300 as proceeds of the narcotics distribution.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of HHS-OIG, FBI and DEA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Morales and Brent Tantillo.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.