Chiropractor who defrauded Amtrak’s health care plan found guilty in $2.2 million fraud scheme

For Immediate Release:

June 11, 2021

SANTA ANA, California – A former California chiropractor was found guilty Tuesday of several federal criminal charges related to a $2.2 million health care fraud scheme.

Susan H. Poon, 56, of Dana Point, was found guilty of five counts of health care fraud, three counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, and one count of aggravated identity theft in a criminal jury trial held in the Central District of California.

Over the course of her scheme, Amtrak’s health care plan and plans from other companies were fraudulently billed for services that were never provided, bogus medical diagnoses, office visits that never occurred, and medical devices that were falsely prescribed. Poon unlawfully gathered personal information from her victims at health fairs where she solicited employees’ information and that of their dependents. As part of the scheme, Amtrak’s health care plan was billed $17,310 and paid $7,145.

“The favorable outcome in this case is a testament to the professionalism and teamwork displayed by our agents, our fellow investigative agencies, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Thomas M. Hopkins, the Special Agent in Charge of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Western Field Office. “Because of this joint effort and efforts like it, we continue to achieve success across the country in bringing justice to those who choose to target Amtrak’s health care plan, its employees and their dependents.”

In addition to Amtrak OIG, the case was investigated by the California Department of Insurance; U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; U.S. Department of Labor OIG; the FBI; and the Office of Personnel Management OIG.

Reports of fraud, waste, or abuse; criminal or unethical acts by an Amtrak employee, contractor or vendor; or mismanagement in Amtrak programs or operations can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Amtrak OIG Hotline at 1-800-468-5469 or online at https://amtrakoig.gov/report-fraud-waste-abuse.

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