Doctor Who Defrauded Health Insurers Tried to Back out of Plea Deal

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In State Of New Jersey Amgad A. Hessein, No. A-0983-20, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division (April 26, 2022) Dr. Amgad A. Hessein, a physician facing a thirty-eight-count indictment alleging billing fraud related to his medical practice, was on the verge starting his trial after completion of jury selection when he pled guilty to second-degree theft by deception, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4(a), and second-degree health care insurance claims fraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4.3(a).

As part of the plea agreement, the prosecutor gave a gift to Dr. Hessein by dismissing the remaining thirty-six counts because defendant entered into a consent order requiring forfeiture of $2,000,000 and directing that he pay restitution in the amount $235,093.75.

Prior to sentencing defendant to an aggregate eight-year prison term and ordering forfeiture of funds and restitution, Judge John M. Deitch denied defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty pleas.

The trial judge properly found that defendant failed to demonstrate there was any evidence supporting a third-degree reckless health care insurance claim fraud instead of a second-degree offense.

ZALMA OPINION

Insurance criminals have no honor. After he was sentenced to jail on the plea he changed his mind and wanted to withdraw his plea and not go to jail because most of the witnesses against him were dead or infirm. It wasn’t even a good try and he obviously used the fraudulent money he gained that were not taken by the court to fund this stupid, second appeal, trying to withdraw his plea. Hopefully he will be able to help the health of his fellow prisoners.


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Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders. He practiced law in California for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 54 years in the insurance business. He is available at http://www.zalma.com and [email protected].
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