Windsor Locks therapist arrested on Medicaid fraud charges

Aug. 28--A Windsor Locks man who authorities said billed a Medicaid program for treating patients in Connecticut -- when he was in Texas -- was arrested Wednesday.

Tariq M. Abdulaziz, 50, of Kate Way was charged with first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and health insurance fraud, said Mark Dupuis, spokesman with the Chief State's Attorney's office. He was released on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford Sept. 5.

According to the warrant for his arrest, Abdulaziz, a psychotherapist, was a provider in a federal and state-funded Medicaid program that treats people with brain injuries.

Between June 2018 and January 2019, he submitted 113 claims for face-to-face sessions with patients in Connecticut when he actually was in Texas, the warrant said. He was paid about $13,650 for the false claims.

Investigators learned he was in Dallas by checking air line, rental car and credit card records.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney will prosecute the case, which was investigated with help from the state Department of Social Services, the Attorney General's office and Rocky Hill police.

Christine Dempsey can be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.

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