Seven years after pleading guilty to the same offense, a Bayonne chiropractor has been indicated on 261 counts of insurance fraud, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Charles B. Boas, 73, of Matawan, was indicted on 261 counts of second-degree health care claims fraud, second-degree theft by deception, two counts of third-degree failure to file tax returns, and two counts of third-degree failure to pay taxes.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury on Friday, December 10th, Bruck said in a statement.
The grand jury indictment alleges that between December 12th, 2016 and March 13, 2018, Boas submitted, or caused to be submitted, 261 fraudulent health care claims to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for payment or reimbursement for health care services purportedly rendered to patients on various dates.
According to the indictment, Boas obtained $75,000 or more from HBCBS by creating the false impression that he provided health care services to certain patients, when in fact the defendant did not.
The indictment further alleges that Boas failed to pay $31,560.78 in income tax for income earned in 2016 and failed to pay $65,525.79 in income tax for income earned in 2017.
He pleaded guilty to a previous insurance fraud indictment back in 2014, which alleged he stole over $13,000 by submitting fraudulent claims to HBCBS.
As a result, the defendant is charged with two counts of third-degree failure to file tax return, and two counts of third-degree failure to pay taxes.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
Additionally, third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Deputy Attorney General Cameron A. Boyd presented the case to the grand jury for the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor under the supervision of Private Insurance Bureau Chief DAG Cheryl Maccaroni, Assistant Bureau Chief DAG Crystal Callahan, and Deputy Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia.
The investigation was conducted with assistance from Detective Janet Thai, Lt. Cortney Lawrence, Lt. Joseph Waters, Sgt. Amy Carson, Dets. Ryan Young, Dawn Ryan, Janelle Tijong, Janet Amberg, and Suzanna Lopez, Civil Investigators Anthony Mihalow and Jordan Thompson, HBCBS Investigators Nicole Sellitto and Ashley Krul, and Special Agent Mike Dolan from the New Jersey Department of Treasury.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson noted that many cases have started with anonymous tips.
People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the website at www.NJInsurancefraud.org.
State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution, and conviction for insurance fraud.
