BOSTON – A vendor for several Veterans Affairs medical
facilities was charged yesterday in connection with a scheme to profit by
billing for, but failing to perform, critical medical gas inspections at VA
facilities.
Chester Wojcik, 49, of Agawam, Mass., was charged with one
count of wire fraud.
It is alleged that from May 29, 2014, through March 5, 2015,
Wojcik, as the owner of Alliance Medical Gas Corporation, engaged in a scheme
to defraud the VA by creating false invoices and reports for medical gas
inspections that never took place. Medical gas supply systems deliver piped
gases, including compressed air, oxygen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen, and carbon
dioxide, to operating rooms, recovery rooms and patient rooms. Medical gas
supply systems must be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure the safety
of patients and medical professionals. Wojcik allegedly failed to perform, and
then lied about, scheduled inspections of medical gas systems at VA facilities
in Sioux Falls, SD, Tuskegee AL, and Montgomery, AL. Wojcik was allegedly paid $8,981 by the VA
for services that his company did not perform.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20
years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000
or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a
federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and
other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey
Stachowiak, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Joseph R.
Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney
Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are
allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Posts
