A 37-year-old Brookfield podiatrist is facing jail time after he was arrested today on allegations that he submitted claims to Medicare for work he never performed.
According to a report just released by David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned an indictment charging Samir Zaky with 14 counts of health care fraud and 14 counts of making false statements relating to health care matters.
The indictment was unsealed following Zaky’s arrest today. Following his arrest, Zaky appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport and was released on bond.
It's been about two years since federal agents seized evidence from Zaky's house in Brookfield. He is a podiatrist who operated Affiliated Podiatrists, LLC.
According to Fein, from July 2008 to July 2011, Zaky submitted claims to the Medicare program stating that he had performed surgical procedures known as avulsions when, in fact, he had only performed routine foot care, such as clipping of toenails. According to the indictment, the government is also seeking to forfeit more than $29,000 in cash found during a search of Zaky’s residence in August 2010.
The charge of health care fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and the charge of making a false statement in a health care matter carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Sheldon and Auditor Kevin Saunders.
Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
