CLEVELAND, USA, (CMC) — A Guyana-born cardiologist was sentenced to 20 years in prison for performing unnecessary catheterisations, tests, stent insertions and causing unnecessary coronary artery bypass surgeries as part of a scheme to overbill Medicare and other insurers by US$29 million.

Dr Harold Persaud, 56,was sentenced when he appeared in court on December 18.

US law enforcement officials report that Persaud was convicted earlier this year of one count of health care fraud, 13 counts of making false statements and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from criminal activity.

“This defendant used his medical licence as a licence to steal,” said First Assistant US Attorney Carole S Rendon. “He inflated Medicare billings, falsified cardiac care records and performing needless and sometimes invasive tests and procedures. This prison sentence is well deserved.”

“Dr Persaud violated the sacred trust between doctor and patient by ordering unnecessary tests, procedures and surgeries to line his pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen D Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Office. “He ripped off taxpayers and put patients’ lives at risk.”

Persaud had a private medical practice at 29099 Health Campus Drive in Westlake and had hospital privileges at Fairview Hospital, St John’s Medical Center and Southwest General Hospital, according to court documents and trial testimony.

He has been accused of devising a scheme to defraud and obtain money from Medicare and other insurers. The scheme took place between 2006 and 2012.