Yardley Drug-Center Doctor Gets Prison For Fraud

YARDLEY, PA — The so-called "medical director" at a Yardley-based drug treatment center has become the latest figure headed to prison for his role in running the center.

Domenick Braccia, 58, was sentenced Friday to 37 months in prison, one year of supervised release, 150 hours of community service, a $15,000 fine and more than $2.4 million in restitution for his part in running Liberation Way.

Braccia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in May.

The plea arose from his role in a scheme to over-bill healthcare benefit programs for treatment and testing of drug-addicted patients at outpatient facilities owned by Liberation Way. Braccia was Liberation Way's only medical doctor on staff at its three locations in Yardley, Bala Cynwyd and Fort Washington.

Prosecutors say Braccia signed blank prescription forms and patient orders, swore to the medical necessity of tests for patients he'd never seen and wrote prescriptions for patients he'd also never seen.

"We have consistently said that this case should send a message to those attempting to profit from fraud and the despair of individuals battling addiction," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. "With this sentence, that message has been delivered in a powerful and concrete way. Dominick Braccia is through practicing medicine and is going to prison.

"We have been proud to work with the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Shapiro and our other federal agency partners to bring all of the defendants in this case to justice."

Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the operators of Liberation Way "shamelessly took advantage of people suffering from substance abuse disorder to line their own pockets."

"As medical director, Dr. Braccia played a significant role in this fraud and betrayed the patients he was supposed to be helping," Shapiro said. "I’m proud that through collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, we held him accountable for his despicable actions today, and we will continue to do the same with the remaining Liberation Way defendants."

The case was investigated with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Beam Winter and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Christ and Robert Labar of the AG’s office.

Last month, Jason Gerner, the CEO and co-founder of Liberation Way, pleaded guilty to bilking patients and insurance companies.

Additionally, former Liberation Way worker Michael Sarubbi II, 53, of Cherry Hill, N.J., pleaded guilty to theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and insurance fraud.

And Dana Fetterman, 35, of Haddon Township, New Jersey — the brother of Liberation Way's co-founder, Dallas Fetterman who died of a drug overdose in 2017 — pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit dealing in proceeds, as well.