International
Guyana-born cardiologist sentenced to 20 years in US prison for overbilling Medicare
A Guyana-born cardiologist was sentenced to 20 years in prison on December 18, 2015, for performing unnecessary catheterizations, tests, stent insertions and causing unnecessary coronary artery bypass surgeries as part of a scheme to overbill Medicare and other insurers by $29 million, US law enforcement officials said.
Dr Harold Persaud, 56, was convicted earlier this year of one count of health care fraud, 13 counts of making false statements and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from criminal activity.
“This defendant used his medical licence as a licence to steal,” said First Assistant US Attorney Carole S. Rendon.
