Insurance Fraud Arrest

May 17, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged 46-year-old Sai Min Wang with Insurance Fraud, Attempted Theft by Deception, and Theft by Deception charges for a fraudulent insurance claim.  On April 23, 2011, the SEPTA Route 42 bus was stopped at a red light at 34^th Street and Civic Center Boulevard. When the light changed, the bus began to move forward as a taxi cab next to the bus opened its door. The door made minor contact with the right rear panel of the SEPTA bus. The bus suffered a scratch on the wheel well and the taxi suffered damage to the rear door. There were seven passengers on the bus; however, no injuries were reported. Neither the police nor paramedics responded to the scene. Detectives also checked for claims with the company that insured the cab and learned that their driver filed no claim for damages occurring during this incident. 

Sai Min Wang, was a passenger on the Route 42 bus at the time of the incident. Despite the lack of injuries reported, on May 5, 2011 Wang went to the hospital and sought treatment for injuries she claimed she had sustained two weeks prior while on the SEPTA Route 42 bus. Wang reported that she hit her head on the seat in front of her and was suffering from headaches and blurred vision. After seeking treatment at the hospital, Wang began to see a chiropractor who she visited on twenty-eight separate occasions between May 5, 2011 and July 30, 2011.  

Wang retained counsel to represent her in a personal injury claim against SEPTA. On May 16, 2011, Wang’s attorney contacted SEPTA and notified them that Wang had been a passenger on the Route 42 bus at the time of the incident and had suffered injuries to her head and neck. Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at the attorney’s office and recovered the file for Wang’s personal injury claim. According to notes in the file, Wang allegedly told the attorney that she believed that the bus crashed into a taxi cab while she was sleeping. Wang further stated to the attorney that she hit her head on an iron bar and was suffering from headaches and sleeplessness as a result of her injury.

In addition to filing a personal injury claim against SEPTA, in July of 2011, Wang’s attorney also filed an injury claim with Wang’s husband’s auto insurance company, Progressive, for the costs of Wang’s medical bills. The attorney submitted an application for benefits, which stated that Wang had been a passenger on a SEPTA bus when she allegedly struck her head on a pole and was suffering from neck pain and dizziness. Progressive paid over $2,800 dollars for medical bills in connection with Wang’s claim.

The SEPTA Route 42 bus is equipped with video surveillance that showed the seven passengers at the time of the incident. The surveillance video indicates that the bus was stopped at a red light, began to move forward and then stopped. The taxi driver then moved his vehicle closer to the curb. The video shows that none of the seven passengers appear to be disturbed at the time of the incident. Furthermore, Wang is seen facing forward and talking on her cell phone when the taxi makes minor contact with the bus. Wang never hits her head on a seat, pole or metal bar and continues her phone conversation for approximately three minutes. The video evidence contradicts Wang’s account of the incident and her claims against both SEPTA and Progressive.

Wang was arrested on May 15, 2013, and is next scheduled to appear in Philadelphia Municipal Court on May 24, 2013.

 

Kermit Gosnell Sentenced to Life In Prison

May 15, 2013:  “I have seen a lot of senseless and cruel acts as the District Attorney of Philadelphia, but this case is arguably the most gruesome,” said District Attorney Seth Williams. “I will not mince words, Kermit Gosnell is a monster.  Any doctor who cuts into the necks severing the spinal cords of living, breathing babies, who would survive with proper medical attention, is a murderer and a monster.  He knowingly and systematically mistreated female patients for years, which ultimately resulted in the tragic death of Karnamaya Mongar.”

72-year-old Kermit Gosnell was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the deaths of three babies, known as Baby A, C and D, who were born alive but were killed when their spinal cords were severed with a pair of scissors.  Gosnell also received an additional two and a half to five consecutive years  for manslaughter charges relating to the death of Mrs. Mongar.  Gosnell was also sentenced to concurrent sentences for the remaining charges against him.  A jury of seven women and five men on Monday convicted Kermit Gosnell of First Degree Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Conspiracy, Performing Abortions at 24 or more weeks, and other related charges. 

“I would like to thank the jurors for their hard work,” continued the District Attorney.  “This was an exhausting and often times morbid ten week trial, and I applaud you for tremendous fortitude.  I would like to give my heartfelt respect and gratitude to Ann Ponterio, Joanne Pescatore, Edward Cameron, Suzan Willcox, Mariana Sorensen, Christine Wechsler, Officer John Taggert , Officer James Woods, Officer Bob Flade, Officer Terry Lewis, Detective Jack McDermott, Officer Carlos Cruz, Detective Aaron Booker, Detective Tim Bass, Sgt. Bob Kuhlmeier and Lt. Mark Deegan. You all have worked everyday on this case since the Women’s Medical Clinic was raided in 2010.  I hope that the family and friends of Kermit Gosnell’s victims will be able to feel a small sense of justice with the resolution of this case.”

“This was a groundbreaking criminal prosecution, where this office, these prosecutors and most importantly these 12 jurors found these heinous acts to be willful, intentional, deliberate, premeditated murders.  This doctor’s illegal purposeful actions against the smallest and most vulnerable human beings born alive were properly called murder by our citizens, and we have acted to seal and preserve those verdicts for all time.  The defendant was also found guilty of dozens of other charges which demonstrated his pattern of endangering the lives of his patients, mostly poor women.  It is our highest priority that these important verdicts are protected forever, not vulnerable to being disturbed by other lawyers or other courts. By our decision, we have ensured and secured these landmark verdicts forever,” concluded the District Attorney. 

Jurors also found Gosnell’s co-defendant 56-year-old Eileen O’Neill guilty of Conspiracy and Theft charges.  Eileen O’Neill will be sentenced on July 15, 2013 in courtroom 304.  She is currently on house arrest after posting a $30,000 bail.

 On February 18, 2010, a raid on Gosnell’s office, called the Women’s Medical Society, in West Philadelphia by the District Attorney’s Office and the FBI uncovered the horrors inside.  Law enforcement officers happened upon the medical abuses in the course of investigating tips that the doctor had been illegally selling thousands of prescriptions for oxycontin and other narcotics to “patients” that he never examined.  The raid revealed that bags and bottles holding aborted fetuses were scattered throughout the building.  Jars containing the severed feet of babies lined a shelf.  Furniture and equipment was dusty, broken, and blood-stained.  The doctor himself was seldom present.  In his absence, untrained and unsupervised workers, (one of them a teenage girl) routinely injected dangerous sedatives into women undergoing illegal late-term abortions.

A year long grand jury investigation revealed that, for over two decades, government health and licensing officials had received repeated reports about Gosnell’s dangerous practices.  No action was ever taken, however, even after the agencies learned that women had died during routine abortions under Gosnell’s care.

Gosnell, a family practitioner who was never certified as an OB/GYN, operated the clinic for years primarily treating lower income, minority women.  Along with performing abortions beyond the legal 24 weeks time, he is also accused of delivering and then killing healthy, viable babies; using a sliding pay scale to administer anesthesia; re-using unsanitary instruments; performing procedures in filthy rooms-some of the rooms had litter boxes and animals present at the time of the operations; and allowing unlicensed employees to perform operations and administer anesthesia-including a teenaged high school student.

Kermit Gosnell, and nine other employees at the Women’s Medical Center were charged with crimes for the illegal practices at the clinic.  Eight of those other employees, including Gosnell’s wife, all pleaded guilty to the charges against them. 

 

 

 

 

 

Bail Set at 1.1 (M) Million Dollars for Theft Suspect

May 8, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged  38 year old David Zagami of Croydon, PA with 56 counts of Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, Criminal Mischief, Possession of an Instrument of a Crime (PIC), and Conspiracy for the theft of 31 Econoline and Chevrolet Express contractor vans.  Zagami is also charged with taking tools from inside another 19 vans, and stealing tools from inside several buildings.  Zagami was arraigned last night and is currently being held on 1.1 (m) million dollars bail.  His next court appearance is scheduled for May 10, 2013 in courtroom 406. 

 37 year old Eric Guerra Chacon of the 200 block of Louden Street in Philadelphia is also facing charges for receiving the stolen property from Zagami and attempting to sell it.  Chacon is charged with 56 counts of Receiving Stolen Property and Conspiracy.  He turned himself into police on May 3, 2013, and he’s currently being held on an ICE detainer.  His next court appearance is scheduled for May 10, 2013 in courtroom 406. 

 Zagami is charged with stealing the vans from the far North and Northeast section of the city, taking the contents of the vans, and then dumping those vans in Bucks County.  He is also charged with breaking into 19 other vans and stealing the contents of those vans.  The vehicles were stolen for their contents; which included assorted hand and power tools, ladders, electronic equipment and other construction equipment. Once emptied of their contents the vehicles were recovered in a one mile radius in Croydon, Bucks County. 

 Police believe Zagami started stealing the vans and pickup trucks last summer and was making approximately $400 to $600 dollars for the contents inside each vehicle.  From July of 2012 until January of 2013 vans and pickup trucks that were reported stolen from Philadelphia were recovered by Bristol Police in Croydon. The locks and ignitions in all of the vehicles were damaged.

 “Zagami targeted small contractors and when he stole their vans and equipment he literally stole their livelihood,” said District Attorney Seth Williams.  “In these tough economic times this is especially troubling.  Numerous families had to struggle to make ends meet because of Zagami’s cold and calculated actions, and I comment the police for their excellent work in finding him.” 

 The arrests of David Zagami and Eric Guerra Chacon were the result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Major Crimes Auto Squad, Bristol Township Police and Bensalem Township Police.

 

 

 

 

Insurance Fraud Arrest

May 3, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged 61-year-old Michael Franklin with Theft by Deception and Insurance Fraud for a fraudulent claim filed with his insurance company. 

 On February 23, 2012, Michael Franklin was operating his 2008 Dodge Avenger when he rear-ended a 2001 Honda at the intersection of Crittenden Street and Washington Lane in Philadelphia. Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were able to be driven away from the scene. Franklin exchanged contact information with the driver of the other vehicle after the accident.

 On February 26, 2012, Franklin filed a claim with his insurance company, Infinity Insurance. Franklin reported to Infinity that his 2008 Dodge Avenger was damaged as the result of a hit and run accident that occurred while the car parked near his house.  Infinity Insurance paid Franklin over thirteen hundred dollars to repair the damage to his car based on this claim.

 On April 24, 2012, the owner of the Honda that Franklin struck filed a claim with her insurance company, Traveler’s Insurance. She reported to Travelers that her 2001 Honda was hit from behind by a 2008 Dodge Avenger while she was stopped a red light at the intersection of Crittenden Street and Washington Lane. The owner of the Honda further stated that the Avenger sustained front end damage and, that although police never arrived at the scene of the accident, she did file a police report at the 14^th district in Philadelphia.

 Infinity Insurance conducted an investigation, during which Franklin gave a statement denying that he was in an accident at the intersection of Crittenden Street and Washington Lane on February 23, 2012.  Infinity investigators interviewed Franklin a second time and he retracted his previous statement and stated that he hit the 2001 Honda insured by Travelers and that his vehicle was never involved in a hit and run. The National Insurance Crime Bureau referred this case to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and Franklin was arrested on May 2, 2013. He is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia Municipal Court in the upcoming weeks for a status listing.

 

Philadelphia Father and Daughter Face up to 236 Years in Prison

May 2, 2013:  A Philadelphia dentist and his daughter are now facing up to 236 years in prison after a jury of their peers convicted them of Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, Insurance Fraud and other related offenses on Wednesday.  72-year-old Dr. Owen Rogal and 51-year-old Kim Rogal are also facing a maximum fine of close to half a (m) million dollars when they are sentenced in June.  During the trial the jury heard from 9 prosecution witnesses, including experts in the field of medical billing and a neurosurgeon.  In addition, the jurors reviewed approximately 40 exhibits.  It took the jury less than two hours of deliberating before finding the Rogals guilty of all charges.  They were each charged with one count of Corrupt Organizations, one count of Criminal Conspiracy, 11 counts of Insurance Fraud, 9 counts of Theft by Deception, and 8 counts of Attempted Theft by Deception. 

The Rogals were arrested and charged by the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit in January of 2011 for submitting fraudulent medical bills to numerous private insurance companies worth close to 5 (m) million dollars.   The charges were the result of a 15 month investigation by the Philadelphia County Investigating Grand Jury and the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit.  The case was referred to the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.  The Grand Jury found that Dr. Rogal and Ms. Rogal used a legitimate business, The Pain Center, to systematically defraud 15 insurance companies by knowingly submitting falsified billing documents for reimbursement. 

The Grand Jury investigation examined the Rogals’ billing practices covering a period from mid 2002 through the beginning of 2011.  During the investigation, the Grand Jury heard from over twenty witnesses and reviewed hundreds of documents.  The evidence presented established that doctors working for the Rogals at the PainCenter were performing a procedure that the Rogals referred to as Radio Frequency Surgery (RFS.)   RFS, as performed at the PainCenter, is an intra-muscular procedure during which tissue is destroyed using heat generated by a radio signal.  This was done by inserting a needle into the affected muscle, and the Rogals claimed that this procedure could alleviate chronic pain.  Based on the testimony of experts the Grand Jury found that each RFS treatment had a maximum value of $800, but the Rogals routinely sought a minimum reimbursement of $4,800 for each RFS treatment.  The Rogals then charged insurance companies by using a billing code for a delicate, high risk invasive procedure performed on a nerve bundle located in the brain.  When the insurance companies challenged the Rogals billing practices, the Rogals responded that they were performing essentially the same procedure as defined by the brain surgery code and that the part of the body on which the procedure was performed was irrelevant to the amount billed. 

 The Grand Jury explicitly rejected this argument and found it to be part of the Rogals’ scheme to defraud insurance companies.  The Grand Jury further found that the Rogals engaged in business practices that were designed to conceal the true nature of what they were doing in furtherance of this scheme.  Of the more than 5 (m) million dollars billed to insurance companies, the Rogals were able to pocket more than 1 (m) million dollars in their personal accounts.  

Assistant District Attorney John Doyle successfully prosecuted this case in court.  Assistant District Attorney Vicki Markovitz and Detective Karl Supperer conducted the investigation into the Rogals.  The Rogals are scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Earl W. Trent in courtroom 1002 on June 13, 2013.  They are facing a maximum of 118 to 236 years in prison and a fine of $470,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Juveniles Charged for “Fake” Gun Incident

May 1, 2013: The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged three juveniles for an incident that was captured on surveillance video at 16^th and Ontario Streets.  The three juveniles, age 10, 13, and 14 years old, have been charged with Harassment, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of an Instrument of a Crime (PIC) and Conspiracy.

On April 22, 2013 the juveniles were recorded on videotape pointing a replica handgun at individuals on the street.  Two of the juveniles also pointed the same replica handgun at an adult male on the 3300 block of N. 16th Street and harassed him.  All three are scheduled for a detention hearing this afternoon at the Juvenile Justice Services Center.

Frankford Man Charged With Straw Purchase

May 1, 2013:  The District Attorney’s Office and Attorney General’s Office Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) have arrested 24 year old William Santore of Frankford on charges that he straw purchased two handguns for criminals.  Santore is facing numerous Violations of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) charges, along with Tampering with Public Records, Unsworn Falsification, and Conspiracy charges.

On April 16, 2013, the Philadelphia Police Department arrested Jonathan Sanchez in Frankford for Burglary and violations of the Uniform Firearms Act after recovering a .40 caliber Steyr semi-automatic handgun.  Sanchez is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing on May 9, 2013.  He is held at the House of Corrections on $150,000 bail.

The Gun Violence Task Force’s investigation revealed that Santore had purchased that handgun along with a 9mm Astra semi-automatic handgun on March 26, 2013 at a Philadelphia gun store. 

After agreeing to be interviewed, Santore admitted to purchasing the two handguns for a male he would only identify as “Fat Cat.”  He also admitted to knowing Sanchez, but said that the guns weren’t for him.  Santore lied on the purchase paperwork by stating that he was buying the handguns for himself and that he was not a user of illegal narcotics.  His falsifications put firearms on the street into the hands of dangerous criminals.  The 9mm Astra has not yet been recovered.

Santore is being processed by police this morning and will be arraigned sometime later today.  ADA Andrew Wellbrock of the GVTF is specially assigned to this case.

 

 

 

 

 

Elementary School Teacher Charged with Rape

April 25, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged 39 year old Sumo Dukulah with Rape, Involuntary Deviant Sexual Intercourse (IDSI), Unlawful Contact, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Unlawful Restraint, Sexual Assault, False Imprisonment, Corrupting the Morales of a Minor, Endangering the Welfare of a Child (EWOC), Indecent Exposure, Simple Assault and Indecent Assault.  Dukulah, a teacher at Leslie P. Hill Elementary School in Philadelphia, is charged with raping a family member for over 8 years.  The assaults began when the child was 8 years old and continued until the child was 16 years old.

 Dukulah was arrested by SVU Detectives on Thursday, April 24, 2013. He was arraigned overnight, bail was set at $500,000, and he was ordered to surrender his passport.  Dukulah’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 15, 2013 at 1801 Vine Street.  This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information on Sumo Dukulah should contact police SVU at 215-685-3251, 3252 or 3253 or the District Attorney’s Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit at 215-686-8080.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aquil Byrd Charged with Simple Assault and Official Oppression

April 24, 2013:  The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office today charged 32-year-old Aquil Byrd with Simple Assault and Official Oppression for an incident that occurred in 2011.

 On Sunday, September 25, 2011, Aquil Byrd, who is a Philadelphia Police Officer assigned to the Strike Force Unit, was on-duty patrolling the Puerto Rican Day Festival.  Officer Byrd and several other officers responded to the area of Front St. and Clearfield Ave. in Philadelphia to clear a large crowd from the street and sidewalk.  While the officers were verbally clearing the crowd in front of a Chinese take-out restaurant, Officer Byrd encountered the complainant.  A verbal exchange then occurred between the two men about moving off the street.  The complainant is then recorded on surveillance video walking into the restaurant, and approximately 20 seconds later Officer Byrd is seen entering the restaurant as well.  Officer Byrd is then seen yelling at the complainant, striking him in the face, and grabbing the complainant by the throat.

  The District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit was referred this case by the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit in January of 2013.  After a thorough review, it was determined that Officer Byrd did act in a criminal manner and the misdemeanor charges of Simple Assault and Official Oppression were approved.  Officer Byrd turned himself into Internal Affairs this afternoon and is currently being processed by police.

 

 

 

 

Former City Council Employee Robin Jones Sentenced for DUI

April 18, 2013: 50-year-old Robin Jones was sentenced to 72-144 hours incarceration with credit for time served for a 2012 DUI.  Jones was ordered to begin six months of probation immediately, with conditions of her probation including evaluation and supervision.  Jones was also ordered to pay a $1000 fine, enroll in alcohol highway safety school, her driver’s license was suspended for 12 months, and she was ordered to pay back $5943.07 in restitution.

Jones, who is the former receptionist for City Council President Clarke, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to DUI on February 13, 2013, after she was arrested in September of 2012 for DUI while driving a city issued car.

ADA Elizabeth Kotchian is specially assigned to this case.  At today’s sentencing ADA Kotchian reminded the Judge about Jones’ careless actions, stating she thinks it shows arrogance to take an illegal drug, consume an amount of alcohol over double the legal limit, and then take the keys to a car you do not have permission to drive when you know your license has been suspended for years.