Federal Agents Arrest Two Dentists in Medicaid Fraud

Landmark Dental operated by dentist, Mehran Zamani

Feds arrest two, raid dental firms in $20 million fraud case

Federal agents arrested a dentist and a former dentist, and raided offices in Trumbull and New Britain as they continued to investigate fraud allegedly committed in practices throughout the state that bilked Medicaid out of a reported $20 million.

Arrested were Mehran Zamani, a 47-year-old dentist from Pound Ridge, N.J., who practiced in Trumbull, Stamford and West Haven, and Gary F. Anusavice, a former dentist from North Kingstown, R.I., who oversaw the practices. Both were charged with conspiring to commit Medicaid fraud.

Anusavice, convicted in 1997 for submitting false health care claims in Massachusetts, was permanently barred by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from participating in federal and state health care programs. In November 2005, he lost his rights to practice dentistry in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Federal authorities claim, however, that Anusavice created several dental firms in Connecticut using other dentists, including Zamani, to operate them.

Zamani was involved in Dental Group of Connecticut in Trumbull, Dental Group of Stamford and Landmark Dental in West Haven. Court papers said Anusavice reviewed patient charts, suggested dental procedures, reviewed billing records and income reports, interviewed and hired dentists and helped manage these offices.

The prosecution claims Anusavice hired Zamani in October 2008 and allowed him to operate the businesses here. Zamani then filed the various applications necessary to obtain Medicaid reimbursements. He failed to disclose Anusavice's involvement in the businesses on any of the applications.

Of course, everyone is due their day in court, but it looks like Club Fed for these dentists and/or former dentists.

Here is a video of a practice operated by Mehran Zamani which was earlier closed:

9 dental offices closed in CT: wtnh.com