Wyckoff Man Stole Over $840K From Medical Practice: DOJ

WYCKOFF, NJ — A Wyckoff man admitted to stealing over $840,000 in health insurance reimbursement checks from a Hudson County medical practice over the course of four years, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Wednesday.

Nuno Fernandez, 38, pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud by videoconference before Senior U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler this week. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

Fernandez was the office manager for a medical practice in North Bergen, New Jersey, where he dealt with reimbursement checks that the practice received from health care benefit programs for services provided, authorities said.

According to court documents and statements, Fernandez began stealing some checks in April 2012, endorsing them in his own name and depositing them into his personal bank account by using an application on his phone.

No one at the medical practice authorized Fernandez to deposit the checks into his personal bank account, but Fernandez continued to steal checks from the practice until March 2016, authorities said.

In total, Fernandez stole over $840,000 over a four-year period, authorities said.

In addition to potential prison time, Fernandez faces a fine of $250,000, or "twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater," officials said.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2021.