Darien 'Candy Shop' Doctor Apprehended In Canada: Feds

NORWALK, CT — A video that appears to show Norwalk Dr. Bharat Patel writing prescriptions in exchange for cash was played at a detention hearing Tuesday.

A federal grand jury indicted two Norwalk doctors with narcotics distribution, health care fraud and money laundering offenses Wednesday as well. Patel, 70, of Milford was arrested July 12 and Dr. Ramil Mansourov, 47, of Darien was apprehended by the Canada Border Services Agency July 13 and is detained in Canada.

Federal authorities said they obtained the video in March 2017 with the help of a confidential source, according to NBC Connecticut.

Judge William Garfinkel ruled that Patel will continue detention in Rhode Island. Patel's lawyer argued he should be released on a $1.2 million bond.

The two doctors are accused of writing prescriptions for cash to addicts, money laundering and millions of dollars in health care fraud. Both operated out of Family Health Urgent Care at 235 Main St. in Norwalk. Around 2012, Mansourov purchased the practice from Patel and renamed it Family Urgent Health Care

Around 2013 the DEA got information that the two doctors were writing prescriptions for controlled substances outside the scope of legitimate medical practice, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

Patel allegedly provided prescriptions for narcotics including oxycodone and hydrocodone to patients he knew were addicted or had been arrested for distributing or possessing controlled substances, according to a criminal complaint. Patients would allegedly pay him $100 in cash per prescription and occasionally Mansourov would fill in the role when Patel wasn’t available.

In 2014 more than $50,000 in cash deposits were made into Patel and his wife’s bank accounts. Some patients filled prescriptions using a state Medicaid card, according to the criminal complaint.

Mansourov is also accused of defrauding the state’s Medicaid program of more than $4 million by billing for patient visits that were never made at homes, nursing homes and his office. Sometimes both Mansourov and
Patel would bill for the same patient on the same day at two different locations, according to the complaint.

The state has also filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against Mansourov.

"The audacity of the alleged fraudulent conduct in this case is astounding," said Attorney General George Jepsen. "In one case, this provider billed Medicaid for at least 500 visits to a particular patient that never happened, receiving $80,000 in taxpayer dollars for services never rendered, and at the same time, sought to receive Medicaid benefits himself. This sort of egregious fraud will not be tolerated, and we will hold accountable those who seek to engage in this sort of conduct."

More from U.S. Attorney's office:
The five-count indictment charges Patel and Mansourov with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count health care fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. The indictment also charges Mansourov with two counts and Patel with one count of money laundering, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of Patel’s Milford residence, Mansourov’s Darien residence, $16,521.25 seized from a safe deposit box rented by Patel, and money judgments equal to the proceeds of Patel and Mansourov’s alleged criminal conduct.
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