Mike Hilgers

Nebraska Attorney General

Nebraska Man Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Case

United States Attorney Deborah Gilg and Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson announced that Clements Akara, 61, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for the crime of health care fraud. Akara was sentenced to three years of supervised release, five months incarceration, and five months of house arrest. He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, Medicaid Division totaling $65,911.

By his guilty plea, Akara admitted submitting false claims to Nebraska Medicaid for durable medical equipment, primarily nebulizers and nebulizer supplies, which he had not actually provided to anyone. Between November 2004 and August 2010 he submitted 76 false claims for payment through his business, Statewide Medical Equipment.

This case was investigated by the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted by the Nebraska Attorney General’s office and the United States Attorney’s office.