The Attorney General says alleged scheme resulted in fraudulent payments of more than $28,000
Rockland resident Olga O’Connor Rich, 41, was indicted last week in connection with an insurance fraud scheme that resulted in her collecting more than $28,000 in insurance payments. As a result of an investigation originally started by the Insurance Fraud Bureau and then referred to the Attorney General, Ms. Rich was charged with 46 Counts of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud, four counts of Larceny Over $250 and three counts of Attempted Larceny.
“This indictment is the culmination of a lengthy investigation by several agencies who work together to eliminate insurance fraud in Massachusetts, including the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, the State Police, and the Attorney General’s office,” said Daniel Johnston, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau. “Taking fraud out of the system reduces insurance rates for all honest citizens.”
As the sole owner of South Coastal Physical Therapy in Brockton from 2001 through 2009, authorities say that Rich used her unique position to submit fraudulent physical therapy bills to several automobile insurance carriers. In total, the investigation revealed that Rich submitted close to $60,000 worth of these “supplement bills” receiving more than $28,000 in payments from August 2007 through August 2011.
“We allege that the defendant submitted fraudulent bills to insurance companies to collect for treatment that was never provided,” AG Coakley said. “Insurance fraud leads to higher premiums and puts a greater burden on consumers through no fault of their own.”
According to authorities, the supplemental bills were sent to insurers months and years after the initial billings were sent to insurers and that she even continued to submit bills after her practice closed and ceased all operations in December of 2009. In fact, authorities alleged that Rich continued to seek reimbursement from insurers as recently as August of 2011.
Rich continued to submit the supplemental bills to insurers even after SCPT closed and ceased all operations in December 2009. Authorities allege that Rich continued to make calls to insurers seeking reimbursement as recent as August 2011. Further investigation revealed that as a result of the alleged scheme, Rich submitted fraudulent bills totaling nearly $60,000 to insurance companies and received payments of more than $28,000 between August 2007 and August 2011.
A special statewide grand jury returned indictments against Rich on September 13. She will be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court on a later date.
