United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Dennis Michael Peyroux, a 57-year-old chiropractor from Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. The charges relate to a scheme involving the billing of Medicare for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits that were either not requested or ineligible for reimbursement.
Court documents reveal that beginning in November 2022, Peyroux conspired with others to purchase Medicare beneficiary information. This included names and Medicare identification numbers along with fabricated recordings of individuals posing as beneficiaries requesting the test kits. Peyroux used this information to bill Medicare through his chiropractic clinic.
Peyroux misappropriated the credentials of a former nurse practitioner who had worked for him and falsely listed this individual as the referring provider on numerous fraudulent claims. Over approximately six months, he allegedly billed Medicare around $3.3 million in false claims for these test kits, receiving about $3.2 million in reimbursements.
Under his plea agreement, Peyroux agreed to pay over $3.2 million in restitution to Medicare. Additionally, the government forfeited more than $1 million seized from his bank accounts. Judge Lance M. Africk has set sentencing for April 23, 2025.
At sentencing, Peyroux could face up to ten years of imprisonment followed by up to three years of supervised release. He also faces a potential fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss related to the fraud under federal law provisions.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation's role in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters are leading the prosecution efforts.