Seven more sentenced in Amtrak OIG-supported Florida health care fraud case

Feb. 13, 2019

For Immediate Release

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Seven defendants in four cases have been sentenced for their roles in schemes related to defrauding health care benefit programs, unlawful dispensing of opioids, and money laundering.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, the following defendants were sentenced between Jan. 24 through Feb. 13, 2019:

Dr. Arman Abovyan and Tina Marie Barbuto (Case No. 18cr80122)

Dr. Arman Abovyan, 44, of Boca Raton, was sentenced Feb. 13, 2019, to 135 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $1,058,097.88 in restitution. He was previously convicted at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; one count of conspiracy to possess, distribute, and dispense controlled substances; and seven counts of unlawfully dispensing controlled substances. Co-defendant Tina Marie Barbuto, 39, of Boca Raton, was sentenced Jan. 24, 2019, to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $3,132,806.13 in restitution. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Mark Jeffrey Hollander (Case No. 18cr80102) and Bosco Jose Vega (Case No. 18cr80101)

Mark Jeffrey Hollander, 44, of Miami, was sentenced Jan. 28, 2019, to 21 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Bosco Jose Vega, 52, of Miami, was sentenced Feb. 1, 2019, to 9 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a monetary transaction of a value greater than $10,000 that was derived from health care fraud.

John Michael Skeffington, Babette Hayes, and Mona Montanino (Case No. 18cr80018)

John Michael Skeffington, 52, of Boca Raton, was sentenced Jan. 25, 2019, to 52 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a health care fraud conspiracy and one count of obstructing a criminal health care investigation. Co-defendants Babette Hayes, 58, of Sarasota, and Mona Montanino, 56, of Boca Raton, were both sentenced to probation after previously pleading guilty to one count of obstructing a criminal health care investigation.

The cases are all the result of the work of the Greater Palm Beach Health Care Fraud Task Force. Amtrak Office of Inspector General investigators were invited to be part of the task force in 2014 after Amtrak insurance providers received fraudulent charges from substance abuse treatment centers and facilities known as “sober homes” in the area. The Task Force is comprised of more than 10 organizations including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

As of Feb. 13, 2019, the Task Force’s ongoing investigation into substance abuse treatment fraud in the Southern District of Florida has resulted in 30 convictions.

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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/seven-more-defendants-sentenced-participating-schemes-related-defrauding-health-care