Pa. Dentist Arrested on Theft and Insurance Fraud Charges

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 26 -- The Pennsylvania Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Linda Kelly today announced criminal charges have been filed against a Centre County dentist accused of submitting more than $52,000 in false insurance claims following a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) State College office.

Kelly identified the defendant as Dr. Jamshid Assadinia, 53, of 1764 Cambridge Drive, State College, Centre County. Dr. Assadinia owns and operates Jamshid Assadinia DDS, 300 South Allen St., State College.

Kelly said Assadinia allegedly submitted insurance claims for dental procedures that he never performed and then billed the insurance companies more than $52,000 under the names of several different patients.

The charges state that from June 5, 2006 through Feb. 16, 2011, Dr. Assadinia submitted the insurance claims to six different insurance companies - Delta Dental, United Concordia, MetLife, Guardian, Cigna and GEHA Connection Dental Federal (GEHA) - for approximately 100 procedures that were not performed.

According to the criminal complaint, Dr. Assadinia billed the insurance companies for procedures such as root canals, crowns, dentures and extractions. Agents estimate that the insurance companies reimbursed Dr. Assadinia more than $33,000 for these procedures.

Dr. Assadinia is charged with one count insurance fraud and one count theft by deception, both third-degree felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. He was preliminarily arraigned before State College Magisterial District Judge Carmine Prestia Jr. and released on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 1, 2012.

Kelly thanked the FBI State College office for their work as part of the joint investigation.

The case will be prosecuted in Centre County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Dennis A. Kistler of the Attorney General?s Insurance Fraud Section.

TNS C-Santpan-Santpan 120127-3754804 71Santosh