In 2009, Julian Omidi, a former dermatologist, had his medical license revoked for participating in dishonest and unprofessional habits. Just some months later, in February of 2010, Omidi would go on to launch a controversial weight reduction program and start a multi-million greenback scheme of fraudulent insurance coverage claims.
On Monday, Omidi, 54, was sentenced to seven years in federal jail for submitting practically $120 million in fraudulent insurance coverage claims in relation to his enterprise, 1-800-GET-THIN. The enterprise promoted and offered weight reduction via Lap-Band surgical procedures in partnership with clinics and weight reduction facilities.
“Omidi intentionally and repeatedly acted with an eye fixed in the direction of enterprise and income, moderately than within the curiosity of GET THIN’s medical sufferers, by inducing sufferers to endure medical remedy premised on fraud moderately than medical necessity, together with surgical procedures that carry important dangers and life-long well being impacts,” stated United States Legal professional Martin Estrada, in a press release.
As a part of the insurance coverage scheme, Omidi had potential sufferers endure no less than one sleep examine — after which instructed staff to falsify outcomes to get the shopper’s insurance coverage firm to pre-approve the process, in line with courtroom paperwork. If insurance coverage firms didn’t approve the surgical procedure, Omidi nonetheless submitted payments for the sleep research, which value about $15,000 a pop. Prosecutors estimate that insurers paid an estimated $41 million to Omidi’s 1-800-GET-THIN enterprise all through his scheme.
“Omidi was effectively educated; he had each alternative to achieve success and make moral selections. Nevertheless, pushed by greed, he dedicated among the most unconscionable and atrocious acts,” Tyler Hatcher, particular agent answerable for IRS Prison Investigation’s Los Angeles Area Workplace, stated in a press release.
The “protected, one-hour” process promised sufferers a fast, simple path to weight reduction utilizing a Lap-Band. Nevertheless, from 2010 to 2014 Michael Hiltzik of The Los Angeles Occasions reported on 5 circumstances of sufferers dying after receiving Lap-Band surgical procedures at clinics affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN.
Along with the jail sentence, Omidi’s Beverly Hills-based firm, Surgical procedure Heart Administration LLC, was placed on 5 years of probation.
