The operator of a Newington-based counseling business who had pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme that defrauded the Connecticut Medicaid program of more than $1.8 million, has been sentenced to prison.
Ramon Apellaniz, also known as “Kristopher Rockefeller” and “Kris,” 40, of Middletown, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Apellaniz in May waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the time.
Court records show that Apellaniz previously operated The Gemini Project, LLC, a Newington-based business that offered counseling to patients with mental, behavioral and emotional disorders.
Court records reveal that the Connecticut public license database shows that Apellaniz is not a licensed provider.
In 2020, Apellaniz was charged by the state with larceny, health care fraud and identity theft for providing services to numerous Medicaid beneficiaries as a non-licensed provider, court records show. He also reportedly billed Medicaid for those services or for services that were not rendered at all. Medicaid reportedly paid out $909,268 for the false claims, according to court records.
Apellaniz pleaded nolo contendere and was sentenced in Hartford Superior Court to eight years in prison, execution suspended after 15 months, and five years of parole on April 17, 2024. Court records show that he was released from...
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