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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A chiropractor who was among 15 people charged in 2019 in connection with an alleged $6 million insurance fraud and illegal kickback scheme is now facing new charges along with a dozen other chiropractors, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today.
The latest case stemming from an alleged $2.5 million scheme charges the accused ringleader, Yury Chernega, with four counts each of insurance fraud and participating in patient referral rebates when licensed in the healing arts or as a chiropractor, along with one count of money laundering.
The case stems from a 2019 case in which Chernega, 49, of Studio City, and 14 other chiropractors were charged. He is awaiting a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to require him to stand trial in the 2019 case.
Between 2014 and 2019, Chernega allegedly offered to refer new patients who had been involved in automobile collisions to other chiropractors in return for an illegal referral fee, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The defendants are also accused of filing false claims for medical services that were not provided.
Charged along with Chernega in the latest case are:
-- Alexander Royzman, 49; of Granada Hills;
-- Edith Coronado-Grande, 57, of Glendora;
-- Lon Segal , 65, of Los Angeles;
-- Arash Noor, 41, of Los Angeles;
-- Gilberto Gomez, 72, of Los Angeles;
-- Omid Okhowat, 51, of Los Angeles;
-- Bruce Householder, 49, of Burbank;
-- Christine Elvine, 51, of Arcadia;
-- Luzan Madain, 46, of Canyon Country;
-- Payam Shayan, 51, of Tarzana; and
-- David Soloway, 51, of Brea.
“Defrauding insurance companies is a serious crime that costs all of us in the form of higher premiums,'' District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement announcing the charges. “We will continue to work with local, state and federal regulators to protect consumers from financial crimes.''
The latest case stems from an investigation by the District Attorney's Auto Insurance Fraud Division and Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the California Department of Insurance, the California Franchise Tax Board, the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
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