SAN DIEGO – Imperial County dentist Javad Aghaloo, 50, Indio, was sentenced in federal court Jan. 26, to 37 months in prison for defrauding Medicare and covering it up. His former billing manager, Melissa Rosas, 42, Calexico, was sentenced to three years of probation with one year of home confinement for obstructing Medicare’s efforts to audit Aghaloo’s dental offices by providing false information, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The pair, along with others, conspired to commit health care fraud by billing Medicare for procedures that were not covered, not performed, or otherwise not necessary, per the report.
Aghaloo pleaded guilty on October 2, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud; Rosas pleaded guilty on October 13, 2023 to obstructing a federal audit.
“Doctors should treat patients, not exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in the release. “This office is committed to protecting vulnerable patients from doctors who take advantage of them, particularly when they do so with no regard for patient safety.”