NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey doctor has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for his role in a health-care fraud targeting Amtrak, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Muhammad Mirza, 51, of Cedar Grove, N.J., had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo today (May 7). Mirza was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to provide $1.37 million in restitution.
Mirza was one of four people arrested and charged in June 2022 [see “Four arrested for alleged Amtrak health-care fraud,” Trains News Wire, June 24, 2022]. According to court documents or statements made in court, Mirza and co-conspirators, between April 2017 and June 2022, were involved in a scheme to bill Amtrak’s health-care plan for services that were either never provided or were medically unnecessary. They would recruit Amtrak employees to participate by paying them to allow those involved in the scheme to use their patient and insurance information to submit false and fraudulent claims. Those involved submitted claims that cost Amtrak at least $1.3 million.
U.S. Attorney Phillip R. Sellenger, who announced the sentencing, said special agents of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, the Amtrak Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration were involved in the investigation.
Muhammad Mirza is no Dr Marcus Welby, MD! He is a disgrace to the medical profession and the railway industry.