A Lackawanna transportation company owner who scammed Medicaid for more than $95,000 by falsifying his claims has been sentenced to one year of probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr.

Munef Fadhel , 38, owner of Greatlake Transportation Inc., pleaded guilty in February to a federal charge of health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo reported. He faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors said that Fadhel , who provided rides for Medicaid recipients, submitted numerous false claims for reimbursement between June 2017 and December 2020.

In many instances, he claimed that he had provided a ride for just one person, which provided a higher rate of reimbursement, when in fact the rides were shared with other people.

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