Ocoee, FL: An Ocoee man faces multiple felony charges in a suspected fraud scheme that authorities say bilked health insurance providers out of thousands of dollars in improper or phony claims.
An investigation by the state’s Department of Financial Services resulted in the arrest ofJean Ely Colin, who is identified in court documents as manager of Silver Star Health and Rehab Inc.
Investigators say Colin, 43, who court records state is not a licensed physician, conspired to get around state regulations requiring chiropractic clinics to be operated by a licensed doctor.
He listed a licensed chiropractor, Judith C. McKenzie, in incorporating documents as the clinic’s owner, but investigators say she wasn’t involved in day-to-day operations or management.
Rather, the business on Silver Star Road was run by Colin and co-defendant Marc Maxis, investigators said. According to court records, McKenzie had similar arrangements at other clinics.
A clinic employee also told DFS investigators that Colin often told him to falsify various documents and patient records, generating reports for patients that were not treated by the clinic.
According to court documents, the clinic improperly billed various major insurance companies, including State Farm, Allstate, Farmers and Progressive, to the tune of more than $550,000.
Colin faces charges of organized scheme to defraud, operating an unlicensed health care clinic, false and fraudulent insurance claims and grand theft. All of the charges alleged are felonies.
Colin was arrested on a warrant Wednesday. He has since been released after posting bail.
Source: The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.