Stamford Dentist Charged with $1.1 Million Fraud Scheme: Criminal Complaint

Stamford, CT — A Stamford dentist was charged with operating a health care fraud scheme that resulted in the loss of $1.1 million to various health insurance companies.

Elena Ilizarov, 43, of Stamford owned and operated Advanced Dentistry in Stamford.

Beginning in 2005, she fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information of a retired dentist and used the information to bill insurance companies for dental care that was allegedly performed by the retired dentist, according to a criminal complaint.

She was released on a $500,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device. She was charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.

“This alleged scheme victimized a retired dentist who had his identity stolen, as well as multiple insurance companies that paid more than a million dollars in fraudulent claims,” said U.S. Attorney Deidre M. Daly. “Health care insurance fraud schemes ultimately increase health care costs for all of us, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and state investigative partners are committed to uncovering all of them to ensure that justice is done.”

The case is part of a national health care fraud takedown.

The effort was led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in 36 federal districts and resulted in criminal and civil charges against 300 individuals, including 61 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $900 million in false billings.

“As this takedown should make clear, health care fraud is not an abstract violation or benign offense – it is a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “The wrongdoers that we pursue in these operations seek to use public funds for private enrichment."