Addiction treatment company, owner plead guilty to fraud conspiracy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said that an addiction treatment company and its owner pled guilty to health care fraud conspiracy,

61-year-old Michael Brier, of Newton, Mass., and his company Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. were accused of failing to provide patients with required counseling sessions and treatment, while simultaneously billing Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care payors for 45-minute counseling sessions that only lasted 5 to 10 minutes or less.

Cunha added that Brier and his company submitted a fraudulent application to Medicare that concealed his 2013 conviction for federal tax crimes.

The attorney added that the plea agreement would see Brier serve six to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of federal supervised release, as well as having to make restitution of more than $3.4 million.

The company itself faces maximum penalties of $500,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater, and up to five years probation.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6. Brier was previously sentenced to 27 months incarceration from his 2013 conviction.