From: Subject: News Release 29 May 2008 Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:28:28 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ohn/news/29May2008.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 News Release 29 May 2008
 
News
Release
     
For Release:   May 29, 2008
 
U.S. Department of Justice
 
United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
William J. Edwards
Acting United States Attorney
 
Michael L.=20 Collyer
Assistant=20 U.S. Attorney
(216)=20 622-3744
     
 

William J. Edwards, Acting United States Attorney = for the=20 Northern District of Ohio, announced today the = unsealing of=20 four federal indictments charging seven individuals = with=20 various health care fraud-related offenses in = connection with=20 the transportation of Medicaid beneficiaries in = vehicles=20 called ambulettes.
The indictment charges with = violations=20 of laws involving mail fraud, wire fraud, health care = fraud=20 and conspiracy:

1. ROBERT SHUMAY, owner of Care Bear = Transportation, 3615=20 Superior Avenue, #3104G, Cleveland, Ohio;

2. IVAN BOBAS, owner of Star Safety Transportation, = 6216=20 Tall Oaks Drive, Mentor, Ohio;

3. ALEKSANDR ROTENBAKH, owner of Transit 7 Inc., = 996=20 Professor Road, South Euclid, Ohio;

4. YEVGENIY ROTENBAKH, owner of Transit 7 Inc., 996 = Professor Road, South Euclid, Ohio;

5. FATIMA WARE, owner of FW Transport, LLC, 7511 = Indiana=20 Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, and Ware Care Transportation, = LLC,=20 21291 Carol Avenue, Euclid, Ohio;

6. KENYATTA WARE, owner of Ware Care = Transportation, LLC,=20 21291 Carol Avenue, Euclid, Ohio; and

7. ZSAMARA BOOKER, owner of Ware Care = Transportation, LLC,=20 21291 Carol Avenue, Euclid, Ohio.

Robert Shumay is charged with six counts of wire = fraud and=20 nine counts of health care fraud. Ivan Bobas is = charged with=20 seven counts of mail fraud and nine counts of health = care=20 fraud. Aleksandr Rotenbakh is charged with one count = of=20 conspiracy, six counts of wire fraud, and ten counts = of health=20 care fraud. Yevgeniy Rotenbakh is charged with one = count of=20 conspiracy, six counts of wire fraud, and ten counts = of health=20 care fraud. Fatima Ware is charged with one count of=20 conspiracy, ten counts of wire fraud, and fifteen = counts of=20 health care fraud. Kenyatta Ware is charged with one = count of=20 conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and ten counts = of=20 health care fraud. Zsamara Booker is charged with one = count of=20 conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and ten counts = of=20 health care fraud.
Ambulette services contract with = the=20 Ohio Medicaid program to transport patients in = vehicles known=20 as ambulettes. An ambulette is a specially equipped = van=20 designed for wheelchair passengers. Medicaid pays = ambulette=20 operators for driving Medicaid beneficiaries to and = from=20 Medicaid-covered appointments, so long as: (1) the = patient=20 rides in a wheelchair; (2) a medical doctor certifies = the need=20 for the wheelchair and ambulette; and (3) the = ambulette itself=20 otherwise meets safety specifications.
The = defendants in=20 each of these cases are charged with scheming to = defraud=20 Medicaid by charging Medicaid for rides of patients = who did=20 not use wheelchairs or require the need of = wheelchairs.
If=20 convicted, each defendant=92s sentence will be = determined by the=20 Court after review of the Federal Sentencing = Guidelines and=20 factors unique to each case, including the = defendant=92s prior=20 criminal record, if any, the defendant=92s role in the = offenses=20 and the characteristics of the violations.
The = indictment=20 is the result of an investigation by the Federal = Bureau of=20 Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services = -=20 Office of Inspector General, and First Assistant = Attorney=20 General Thomas Winters=92 Medicaid Fraud Control Unit = of the=20 Ohio Attorney General=92s Office. The case is being = prosecuted=20 by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer with = assistance=20 from Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Constance = Nearhood, an=20 Assistant Attorney General for the State of = Ohio.
An=20 indictments is only a charge and is not evidence of = guilt. A=20 defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will = be the=20 government=92s burden to prove guilt beyond a = reasonable=20 doubt.

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