Inverness man indicted for COVID-19 testing fraud scheme
A suburban man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds for his involvement in a COVID-19 testing fraud scheme that netted his
The money was allegedly obtained by submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement on tests that were never performed, that were performed incorrectly or that were paid for by clients.
Alvi co-owned and operated Laboratory A in
According to the indictment, which was made public Monday, in or around
Between
According to the indictment, Alvi directed Laboratory A employees to falsely report that COVID-19 tests had been performed on clients despite knowing that the test specimens had been thrown out, without being tested, at his direction. The laboratory would give negative test results to individuals who had provided specimens for testing. Laboratory A also did not release positive COVID-19 results on specimens where tests were eventually performed, since a negative result had already been released, according to the indictment.
The indictment also indicated that Alvi directed employees to alter the laboratory's testing methods by using less of the materials needed to process PCR tests -- including the reagents -- in order to reduce costs and increase profits, despite knowing that would make test results unreliable.
Alvi allegedly transferred part of the
Each count of wire fraud Alvi faces is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, and the count of theft of government funds is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.
"The charges in this case allege that the defendant disregarded public health concerns in favor of personal financial gain," said
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