BRIAN KEITH WILSON entered his guilty plea to health care fraud in Texas on January 29th, 2008.
According to information presented in court, Wilson was CEO of Assessment Professionals, a drug and alcohol counseling center in Beaumont. From September 2004, until August 2005 Assessment Professionals, owned by Joseph Armstrong, submitted over 50,000 claims to Medicaid for individual and group therapeutic sessions allegedly conducted and provided to Medicaid-eligible adolescents for drug and alcohol abuse. Under the direction of Wilson, employees of Assessment Professionals would obtain children’s Medicaid numbers through various means, and then use those numbers to fraudulently bill Medicaid for drug and alcohol counseling.
Question: Was this the brainchild of the CEO? Was it done at the direction of the owner – Armstrong? And, what did either get out of it personally?
Wilson could receive up to 37 months in federal prison, must pay restitution of $347,161.89, and must provide assistance with the investigation and prosecution of others involved with Assessment Professionals. A sentencing date has not been set. Assessment Professionals’ counselors, Nicola Holtzman, Jimmie Admas, and Armando Carmona, and owner Duane Armstrong are still awaiting trial.
Prediction: Faced with over three years in prison and a substantial restitution order, Wilson will cooperate in order to convict those awaiting trial. For his efforts the federal prosecutor might suggest a downward departure from the minimum sentencing guidelines. However, Wilson will likely spend time in prison.
Every choice has a consequence. Unfortunately, it appears that Wilson is just beginning the consequence phase of his white collar crime actions. As a business ethics speaker (www.chuckgallagher.com), I see too many times issues that arise from choices that people knew were wrong to begin with. It is true – you reap what you sow.
