Columbus, OH – Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced that Boardman, Ohio chiropractor David Esarco was recently sentenced in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas to two years of community control, 60 days on electronically monitored house arrest with work privileges, a $1,000 fine and ordered to pay court costs for attempted insurance fraud and attempted theft. Full restitution was paid to the victims.
“Protecting consumers by fighting insurance fraud is a top priority for the Ohio Department of Insurance,” Taylor said. “We know fraud is not a victimless crime and one that harms our economy, our insurance market, and Ohio families. Thanks to the hard work of the Department of Insurance and local law enforcement, Mr. Esarco has been brought to justice.”
A joint investigation led by the Department with the assistance of the Boardman Police Department and the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office found Esarco billed insurance companies more than $33,000 for services that he never rendered to patients at his practice, Esarco Chiropractic and Wellcare.
The Department initiated an investigation in November 2010 after receiving information Esarco was billing private insurance for services not rendered. The investigation, which involved the execution of a search warrant at Esarco’s practice, confirmed he falsely billed multiple insurers for such treatments as manipulations and therapeutic exercises. Esarco pled guilty in November 2012 to workers’ compensation fraud involving a similar billing scheme.
Source: OH DOI