N.J. Medical Assistant Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Theft by Deception

New Jersey’s Acting Attorney General Peter Harvey announced that an Essex County medical assistant has pled guilty to theft by deception for her reported role in submitting nearly $5,000 in fraudulent medical billings to an insurance company for chiropractic services that were never provided.

According to Vaughn McKoy, First Deputy Director, Division of Criminal Justice and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Kim Robinson of Elizabeth, pled guilty before Essex County Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin to conspiracy (2nd degree), Health Care Claims Fraud (2nd degree), and theft by deception (3rd degree). A crime of the second degree carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $150,000. A third degree crime carries a sentence of up to five years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000. Robinson may also face civil insurance fraud fines pursuant to the Insurance Fraud Prevention Act. Robinson is scheduled to appear before Judge Ravin on May 12 for sentencing.

Robinson, along with Michael A. Gardiner of Maplewood, a New Jersey licensed chiropractor, were charged via a State Grand Jury indictment returned on Nov. 19, 2002. Gardiner, the owner/operator of a chiropractic clinic located at 2066 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, was charged with one count of conspiracy (2nd degree), two counts of Health Care Claims Fraud (2nd degree), one count of theft by deception (3rd degree), and one count of criminal use of a runner (3rd degree). Gardiner’s case remains pending in Essex County Superior Court.

At the guilty plea hearing, Robinson reportedly admitted that between April – July, 2000, numerous patients seeking chiropractic medical services were “signed-in” as receiving chiropractic treatments when, in fact, the patients never received or obtained medical treatment.

Robinson also reportedly admitted that the fraudulent billings were authorized by Gardiner and that they were submitted to various insurance companies for payment for medical treatments never rendered to patients.