New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang have announced the conviction of Amrish Patel, a medical biller from Monroe Township, New Jersey. Patel was found guilty of stealing over $1.1 million intended for doctors providing care to injured workers under the New York State Workers’ Compensation Law.
Patel, who worked with a Brooklyn-based orthopedic surgery practice, diverted funds by submitting falsified claim forms to the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF). The stolen money was used for personal expenses, including luxury vehicles and vacations. Having pleaded guilty to one count of Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree, Patel has been sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution.
Attorney General James stated, “Stealing funds meant to provide care for injured workers harms medical professionals and puts a crucial lifeline for New Yorkers at risk.” She emphasized that Patel's actions were a betrayal of trust as he misappropriated funds meant for essential medical services.
Inspector General Lang added that Patel’s fraudulent activities undermined public trust in the workers' compensation system. "Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who seek to defraud our systems will face severe consequences," she said.
The NYSIF Executive Director and CEO Gaurav Vasisht also expressed commitment against workers’ compensation fraud, highlighting its impact on business costs and citizens' finances.
The conviction followed an investigation by multiple agencies including the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau (CEFC), the Offices of the Inspector General’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud unit (WCFIG), and NYSIF. The investigation revealed that between January 2012 and January 2019, Patel exploited his role as a billing agent by redirecting payments meant for surgeons treating workers' compensation cases.
Patel submitted falsified claims instructing insurance checks be issued directly to his companies rather than the doctors. His scheme came undone when an office manager noticed discrepancies in payment routing. A forensic audit showed over $1 million was funneled into Patel's accounts for personal use.
Arrested in January 2024, Patel faced numerous charges including Insurance Fraud and Grand Larceny before pleading guilty in September 2024. He had previously settled some restitution privately with affected doctors.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Lee with analytical support from Legal Analyst Brooke Starkey among others. The criminal investigation involved Detective Dennis Churns under senior supervision within the Major Investigations Unit.
Attorney General James acknowledged contributions from NYSIF and OIG towards resolving this case effectively.