'Massive' Health-Care Fraud Case Targets Eight in Canton

Eight Canton residents are among the 26 people induced by a federal grand jury for their suspected roles in what investigators have called a case of "massive health-care fraud."

United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced Tuesday the scheme was revealed after an investigation by the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services.

Allegations include the illegal distribution of more than 6 million doses of opiate painkillers and depressants in and beyond Michigan.

Leading the list in the 34‑count indictment are allegations against Canton pharmacist Babubhai "Bob" Patel, 49. He stands accused of hiding his role in owning more than two dozen pharmacies; of using kickbacks, bribes and other lures to get physicians to write prescriptions for drugs for patients using Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance and having those prescriptions filled at one of Patel's pharmacies.

The federal charges also allege that the drugs were either unnecessary, not dispensed and in some cases, such drugs as OxyContin, Xanax, Vicodin and codeine were used to compensate other participants in the scheme.

The indictment alleges that, since 2006, the Patel Pharmacies billed the Medicare program at least $37.7 million and Medicaid at least $20.8 million.

McQuade's announcement noted that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that defendants are entitled to fair trials.

Canton pharmacists indicted

Babubhai Patel

Dineshkmar Patel, 33

Anish Bhavsar, 35

Kartik Shah, 34

Lokeh Tayal, 35

Other indicted pharmacists

Narendera Cheraku, 33, of Farmington Hills

Hiren Patel, 31, of Novi

Ashwini Sharma, 33, of Novi

Viral Thaker, 30, of Findlay, Ohio

Pinakeen Patel, 32, of Sterling Heights

Miteshkumar Patel, 37, of Troy

Physicians named in the indictment

Paul Petre, 43, of Rochester Hills

Mark Greenbain, 69, of Farmington Hills

Mustak Vaid, 38, of Brownstown Township

Others in the medical field indicted

Podiatrist Anmy Tran, 40, of Macomb

Indicted as patient recruiters

Psychologist Sanyani Edwards, 32, of Ferndale

Leodis Elliott, 41, of West Bloomfield

LaVar Carter, 34, of Macomb

Others indicted

Accountant Chetan Gujarathi, 38, of Canton

Business associates indicted

Harpreet Sachdeva, 38, of Canton

Ramesh Patel, 50, of Canton

Komal Acharya, 27, of Farmington Hills

Sumanray Raval, 54, of Farmington Hills

Rana Naeem, 60, of Rochester Hills

Arpitkumar Patel, 26, of Romulus