Unlicensed Therapist Convicted For Stealing $450,000 From Medicaid

Attorney General Spitzer today announced that a Brooklyn man has pleaded guilty in Albany County Court to stealing more than more than $450,000 from the Medicaid program.

Cosmas LeGrand, 56, of 165 East 19th Street in Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on December 2, 2005, before Judge Thomas Breslin in Albany County Court to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. Sentencing was set for February 3, 2006, at which time LeGrand is expected to be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison pursuant to his plea agreement with the State.

At his plea, LeGrand admitted that between January 1997 and May 2004, he caused Family Care Certified Services of Brooklyn and Queens ("Family Care") to bill Medicaid more than $450,000 for services he provided as a licensed physical therapist when he was not, in fact, a licensed physical therapist. As part of his scheme, LeGrand admitted that he deceived Family Care into believing he was licensed to perform physical therapy by submitting forged licensing certificates.

At sentencing, Legrand will be ordered to pay more than approximately $450,000 to Family Care for improper Medicaid billings, plus an additional $350,000 for improper billings to other insurers. Family Care, in turn has agreed to reimburse the State for the claims it submitted to Medicaid for Legrand’s services.

The Attorney General thanked the state Departments of Education and Health for their assistance in this investigation.

Special Assistant Attorney General Jay Speers is prosecuting the case. Supervising Investigator Peter Markiewicz, Special Investigators Wayne Rivers and Carlos Miranda, and Special Auditor Investigator Karin Flynn and Senior Special Auditor Investigator Milan Shah assisted in the investigation.