Gainesville Physician and Ex-Wife Indicted in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

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GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Erik M. Schabert, 48, a physician, and his ex-wife, Mika Kamissa Harris, 49, both from Gainesville, Florida, have surrendered on a federal indictment charging them with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  The indictment also charges Harris with multiple counts of money laundering.  The charges were announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that while owning and operating Reliant Family Practice in Gainesville, Harris and Schabert defrauded health care benefit programs of $4.4 million through the submission of fraudulent claims.  According to the indictment, between January 2013 and July 2016, Harris and Schabert caused claims to be submitted to Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield for chemical peels, dermabrasions, and acne surgery using false diagnoses of rosacea, acne, and actinic keratosis.  The indictment further alleges that Harris laundered approximately $3.1 million dollars in proceeds of the health care fraud scheme.

Schabert and Harris made their initial appearance on the charges at the U.S. District Courthouse in Gainesville.  The trial is scheduled for April 24, 2018.

If convicted of charges in the filed indictment, Schabert and Harris face a maximum term of 20 years in prison for health care fraud conspiracy and 10 years in prison for each of the health care fraud counts.  Harris faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering counts.

This indictment is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.

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