A Cook County physician has been charged with allegedly defrauding Medicaid and Medicare of more than $1 million, according to an announcement from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Mohammad Khamis, 56, of River Forest, faces multiple felony charges including theft, money laundering, managed health care fraud, vendor fraud, and forgery. If convicted on the most serious charges, Khamis could face up to 30 years in prison.
Khamis is accused of submitting claims for medical services and prescriptions that he did not provide. The Attorney General’s office alleges that while Khamis was out of the country, a student from his non-certified medical school in Bosnia—who was not licensed—acted as a doctor and examined patients at his Chicago-area practices. Authorities say Khamis billed Medicaid and Medicare for these services as if he had personally provided them.
Khamis owned four private medical practices and four pharmacies in Chicago. He is currently detained at the Cook County Department of Corrections with his next court date set for November 26.
“Physicians have an ethical obligation to treat their patients with integrity and transparency. Physicians also have a moral obligation to the taxpayers and the millions of Illinoisans who rely upon Medicaid and Medicare to obtain their health care,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work in collaboration with our federal government partners to identify and hold accountable the individuals who steal from these critical programs for personal financial benefit.”
The case is being prosecuted by Raoul’s office following an investigation involving several agencies: the Medicaid Fraud Bureau; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and U.S. Marshals Service.
Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent Charge of HHS-OIG, stated: “The allegations in this case reflect a troubling scheme that not only defrauded our federal health care programs, but also placed patient safety at risk. This investigation exemplifies the strength of our coordinated law enforcement efforts. HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our state partners to safeguard the integrity of our Medicaid program and to ensure that those who compromise patient care for personal profit are held accountable.”
Shane R. Catone, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division said: “Physicians who commit healthcare fraud violate the sacred trust placed in them and undermine the safety and integrity of their colleagues, their profession, and the entire healthcare community to which they took an oath of service. The DEA Chicago Field Division, in collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, remains committed to keeping Americans safe from anyone who exploits the financial, pharmaceutical, and criminal systems.”
Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge at FBI Chicago Field Office added: “The scheme orchestrated by the subject exploited the nation’s limited pool of health care resources by stealing from America’s most vulnerable populations and putting them at risk when placed under the ‘care’ of an unlicensed, fraudulent medical provider. The FBI will continue to work side-by-side with our valued partners in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, HHS-OIG, and DEA to ensure that those who choose to engage in criminal activity will face justice for their actions.”
Deputy Chief Steven Krueger and Assistant Attorney General Daniel Duffy are handling prosecution for Raoul’s Medicaid Fraud Bureau.
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
