BOSTON — A dentist from Chelmsford pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to collaborating in a plan to defraud MassHealth even though paving the way for an additional dentist to have out shoddy therapies on clients.
Scott Cale, 68, agreed to plead responsible to health treatment fraud and conspiring to commit health care fraud, in exchange for a sentence recommendation of 18 months in jail, 3 a long time of supervised release and fines, according to U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins’ workplace.
The scheme happened when Cale was employed by co-conspirator and fellow dentist Anthony DiStefano, who owned and operated Loved ones Dentistry, dependent in Worcester.
Prosecutors explained DiStefano was barred from participating in the MassHealth insurance coverage plan thanks to concerns in excess of the top quality of care he offered to clients.
According to the charging files, people worries integrated allegations that DiStefano had a “significant compound abuse dependency.” He was also the matter of 3 lawsuits and numerous investigations around allegations of negligent dental treatment. The lawsuits would be solved with settlements.
To circumvent his exclusion from MassHealth, DiStefano recruited Cale to join his observe.
Prosecutors claimed from 2014 to 2018, dental services DiStefano individually shipped ended up billed to MassHealth making use of Cale’s supplier identification credentials. Cale then gave DiStefano a share of the income paid to him by MassHealth.
Charging files condition through the about 4-yr period, Cale received in surplus of $550,000 from MassHealth that ended up transferred to DiStefano.
Due to the scheme, “multiple MassHealth people were being harmed and been given dangerously poor treatment from DiStefano,” prosecutors said.
Prosecutors shown five clients in the charging paperwork that seasoned fallout from DiStefano’s substandard dental treatment.
Sufferers claimed struggling damaged teeth throughout processes, which include a person affected person who explained they essential to have all their enamel eliminated owing to recurring challenges brought on by DiStefano.
Just one patient who essential to have a tooth extracted claimed when DiStefano utilised pliers to grasp a tooth, he rather grabbed a element of the patient’s gums and pulled, ripping the gums open up. Rather of addressing the personal injury, court docket paperwork point out DiStefano “shoved gauze” in the patient’s mouth, and instructed them to go to the emergency area, right before shooing them out the door.
Yet another affected person stated in the charging paperwork claimed both of those DiStefano and a dental assistant appeared to be drunk all through a treatment.
Cale and DiStefano were both equally indicted by a grand jury and arrested in January 2020.
Court documents present that DiStefano, who experienced been charged with wellbeing treatment fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax evasion, died on Jan. 1, 2022, while his scenario was pending.
Accepting the plea offer available by Rollins’ place of work lets Cale to stay clear of a considerable phrase of incarceration. In accordance to prosecutors, the expenses of health and fitness care fraud and conspiracy to commit overall health treatment fraud both incorporate a likely sentence of up to 10 years in prison, in addition to a single calendar year of supervised launch and a wonderful of up to $250,000.
Cale is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Courtroom Judge Margaret Guzman on July 20.
Cale’s lawyer, Elliot Weinstein, was not immediately offered for comment.
Stick to Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis
