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Nurse Practitioner Sentenced in Case Involving Knee Brace for Leg Amputee

15 Aug, 2022 F.J. Thomas

                               

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Georgia nurse practitioner was recently sentenced to 87 months federal prison time after being convicted by a U.S. District Court jury for her role in an extensive telemedicine fraud scheme involving over $3 million in durable medical equipment orders.

Sherley Leon Beaufils of Conyers, Ga., gained her license as family nurse practitioner in 2011, and was affiliated at one time with Piedmont Newton Hospital. Additionally, Beaufils was a beauty entrepreneur and motivational and mental health blogger.

Beaufils was originally indicted in October of 2020 via Operation Rubber Stamp, an investigation that prosecuted more than 30 defendants and involved over $1 billion in charges. At that time, Beaufils was charged with five counts each of Healthcare Fraud and False Statements Related to Health Care, and one count of False Statements. After a two-day trial in February, Beaufils was found guilty of those charges, as well as Aggravated Identity Theft. Although charged with one additional charge of conspiracy, she was found not guilty at trial for that one particular charge.

According to evidence from the investigators, Beaufils initiated orders on over 3,000 orthotic braces as a result of leads identified and shared through a telemarketing scheme by un-named co-conspirators. Beaufils would sign dictation for medical exams that never occurred. Then she would create an order for orthotic braces for the patient that she had never met or interacted with in exchange for a kickback. Then the fake orders that Beaufil had created were then sold to companies who filed claims to Medicare for payment.

Investigators noted a case in which Beaufil had signed dictation and created an order for an amputee to receive a knee brace. In another scenario, Beaufil had signed dictation and ordered a back brace for a deceased patient.

At the time of conviction in February, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Philip Wislar was appalled by the case stating, “The level of greed shown by Beaufils in this case is shocking, as she lined her pockets at the expense of American taxpayers and government funded healthcare programs.”

Greed seemed to be the common motivating theme as U.S. Attorney David H. Estes weighed in at sentencing saying, “Sherley Beaufils let greed take the wheel when she raked in massive profits by ordering unnecessary medical devices for patients she never examined or spoke to. She targeted the elderly and medically vulnerable with her schemes, and is now being held accountable.”

Beaufils’ level of greed has cost her dearly as she has also been ordered to pay $1,635,161.61  in restitution, and is required to service three years of supervised released after her prison term has been completed.

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    About The Author

    • F.J. Thomas

      F.J. Thomas has worked in healthcare business for more than fifteen years in Tennessee. Her experience as a contract appeals analyst has given her an intimate grasp of the inner workings of both the provider and insurance world. Knowing first hand that the industry is constantly changing, she strives to find resources and information you can use.

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