Beckley businessman, 3 workers plead guilty to health care fraud

from staff reports

July 18, 2008 10:14 pm

— A Beckley man and three others have pleaded guilty to health care fraud, and federal prosecutors say they were involved with a business that submitted more than $10 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.
Tracy E. Webber, 62, of Beckley, Jeffrey Evan “Van” Webber, 65, of Chatham, Va., Thomas M. Binetti, 61, of Virginia Beach, Va., and David L. Murphy, 63, of Raleigh, N.C., pleaded guilty to health care fraud this week before U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Johnston.
Tracy Webber owned, and the other three were employed by, Group II Medical Support LLC, prosecutors said. The Beckley-based durable medical equipment company specialized in marketing and placing mattresses used to treat the most severe pressure sores.
According to prosecutors, Group II submitted more than $10 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for patients that did not qualify for the mattresses.
Each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced. Tracy and Jeffrey Webber are scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8, Binetti and Murphy on Dec. 11.
Previously, a corporate plea was entered, resulting in $2.2 million in civil settlements.