George Miller, the former CEO of a Chicago hospital, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy, embezzlement, and corruption.
The U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled a 45-count indictment against Miller, who is now based in Dallas. The indictment alleges that Miller conspired with the hospital's former chief financial officer, Anosh Ahmed, to direct vendor contracts and other business to specific medical supply companies in exchange for kickbacks.
The charges against Miller are part of a broader investigation that initially targeted Ahmed, Sameer Suhail (the owner of the medical supply companies), and Heather Bergdahl (the hospital's former chief transformation officer). The indictment claims that fraudulent payments were made to vendor companies for goods and services that were never delivered.
The scheme allegedly spanned from 2018 to 2021, during which Miller and Ahmed received $19 million in payments from Suhail. Bergdahl's role involved opening bank accounts in the names of legitimate hospital vendors to facilitate the deposit of fraudulent payments.
The case against Miller and his co-defendants reflects a larger trend of increased scrutiny on fraudulent activities in the healthcare industry. The Department of Justice has reported significant settlements and judgments related to healthcare matters, highlighting the government's commitment to combating fraud in the sector. The outcomes of this case could have important implications for future cases of fraud and corruption, potentially impacting the operational practices of healthcare institutions nationwide.