Milford chiropractor filed more than $600,000 in false claims

A Milford chiropractor pleaded guilty Dec. 10 for filing more than $600,000 in claims for patients who did not need treatment, and paying them on top of it.

Pierre Charles Moise, 57, of Apopka, Fla., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to concealing from insurance companies the fact that he paid patients to attend his chiropractic clinic.  

According to court documents, Moise owned and operated the Wellness Health Center, a chiropractic clinic, in Milford, and from roughly 2019-2022, officials said, Moise and through others paid patients who had been in recent car accidents to attend treatment sessions at the WHC irrespective of whether that treatment was needed.  At his instruction, officials said, employees submitted claims for reimbursement to insurance companies, which under Delaware’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection law, were obligated to pay WHC for that treatment. Moise and WHC received over $630,000 from insurance companies as a result of that fraud scheme, officials said.

Moise pleaded guilty to making a false statement relating to health care matters and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, officials said.

“Moise defrauded insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of Delaware’s PIP laws.  Those laws are designed to help put injured individuals back on their feet, not to enrich criminal actors.  My office is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in such criminal schemes that hurt all Delawareans by increasing insurance costs for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney David Weiss in a statement.

“Moise’s business model revolved around defrauding automobile insurers. Instead of operating a legitimate chiropractic clinic, he actively sought patients who did not need treatment, paying them to visit his office unnecessarily and then filing fraudulent claims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure those who engage in such deceptive actions are held accountable.”