Federal healthcare fraud investigations are usually incited by informants who, for whatever reason, have found themselves in a position where they feel it necessary to provide the government with information about fraudulent billing practices. Oftentimes, these informants are whistleblowers who will confidentially feed the government information that has the power to open an investigation.
Federal health care fraud cases are extremely complex and tough to navigate. This is why, if you have received a notice of investigation, you need to speak with an experienced federal health care fraud attorney as soon as possible.
Investigation of Potential Misconduct
Federal investigations typically generate enormous paper trails, and federal healthcare fraud investigations are no different. The government tends to get the ball rolling with a notice of the inquiry.
Once that happens, a search warrant is executed, and the target will have their phone, desktop, and laptop seized by federal agents. They will download everything contained on these devices and meticulously comb through every bit of information they contain, looking for evidence that proves their case.
Letter of Notice
The typical way people learn they are under investigation for healthcare fraud is when the United States Attorney’s Office sends them a target letter informing them that a grand jury investigation has been launched, and advising them of their rights as they pertain to their situation. If these things have already occurred, the target will eventually be placed under arrest and processed.
Often, in cases of healthcare fraud and other economic crimes, judges will allow a defendant to remain free until their trial date, provided that specific conditions are met. The nature of these conditions will depend on the size of the supposed network, the extent of the harm caused, the target’s previous criminal history, the number of people affected, and whether any fatalities resulted from the alleged conduct.
When someone is charged with a health care crime, mindful decision-making is needed at every stage, making it necessary to work with a skilled advocate who understands the legal system and can advise them through every phase of the process.
Common Mistakes
The mistakes most commonly made by those charged with healthcare fraud are not seeking legal help and trying to convince federal agents to drop the charges. In these kinds of fraud investigations, agents are quick to execute search warrants on a target’s business or home. Part of their goal in doing so is to catch the person off guard and get them to agree to help agents with their inquiry.
If a search warrant is executed on your home, under no circumstances should you speak to an agent. The only weapons you have at your disposal at that point in time are contacting a lawyer and keeping your mouth shut.
Unfortunately, many targets mistakenly think that if they tell the truth, things will somehow be okay. At this stage, however, agents are working to elicit a confession. Failing that, they may willfully misinterpret or twist statements to make a target sound guilty because these interviews are not typically recorded.
Another mistake commonly made by targets that feel they don’t have anything to hide is disclosing too much information. This seldom works in their favor. If the agents were being honest, they would inform the target that there is no risk involved in withholding information, only in disclosing it. The best thing you can do at this stage is be quiet and call a federal healthcare fraud lawyer.
Consult a Federal Healthcare Fraud Attorney
Federal health care fraud cases can be extremely frightening, especially if you are not working with an attorney. If you are facing healthcare fraud charges, knowing what steps to take and what to expect can make a world of difference. The first and most vital step for a target in a healthcare fraud investigation is contacting an experienced federal healthcare fraud lawyer as quickly as possible. This ensures that your rights are protected and that you have a strong defense in place from the beginning.
If you are under investigation for healthcare fraud, our legal team can help. If you would like to participate in a confidential consultation with one of the federal healthcare fraud lawyers at Aaron L. Wiley Law, P.C., call us at (254) 566-3860 or fill out the contact form on our website.