Jay Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Medicare Scheme
March 12, 2012
A Jay man was sentenced Friday to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a Medicare fraud kickback scheme that funneled patients through a fraudulent mental health company.
Barry Nash, 69, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Nash pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Nash was the owner and operator of Starter House, a halfway house operating in Broward County.
Nash admitted that, in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks, he agreed to refer Medicare beneficiaries who resided at Starter House to American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and American Sleep Institute (ASI), a company related to ATC. Nash knew that ATC and ASI fraudulently billed Medicare for partial hospitalization program (PHP) services and sleep treatment purportedly provided to his referrals. PHP is a form of intensive mental health treatment.
According to court documents, ATC’s principals paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI. In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks. Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services. Ultimately, ATC and ASI billed Medicare for more than $200 million in medically unnecessary services.
According to the plea agreement, Nash’s participation in the fraud resulted in more than $959,901 in fraudulent billing to the Medicare program.
Tate Softball To Host Milton In ‘Strike Out Cancer’ Game
March 12, 2012
Tuesday, the Tate Lady Aggies will host the Milton Panthers for their annual “Strike Out Cancer” game.
All proceeds from the game will go to the Pensacola Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Former Head Coach Varnell will throw out the first pitch. The softball players will be playing in honor of a friend or family member who has been touched by cancer.
The game begins at 7 p.m. at Tate High School.
Pedestrian Hit, Killed By Semi
March 12, 2012
A female pedestrian was hit and killed by a semi-truck early this morning in Gulf Breeze.
The accident happened about 4:4 a.m. at Highway 98 and College Parkway. The Florida Highway Patrol says the pedestrian stepped into the path of the semi driven by James Albert Gresko, 54, of Pensacola. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gresko was unable to see the pedestrian in time to stop, according to the FHP. The pedestrian was dressed in dark clothing, was not in a crosswalk and was crossing in dimly lit area.
The name of the 47-year old female pedestrian has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
No charges were filed.
Texting While Driving In Florida Remains Legal
March 12, 2012
A bill to ban texting while driving had some traction in the Senate but failed to elicit much attention in the House during the regular session that ended at midnight Friday.
The Senate proposal would have allowed law enforcement officers to tack on a ticket for texting to motorists pulled over for other driving offenses. While the Senate plan got to the floor, three bills in the House never got out of park after being bottled up in a key House subcommittee chaired by Republican Brad Drake.
18 Certified As Level Two Search And Rescue Techs
March 12, 2012
Eighteen area residents have received their certification as Level Two Search and Rescue Technicians (SARTECH II).
The certification included a written exam along with extensive field examinations in land navigation, man tracking, search techniques and rescue ropes/knots.
The 18 are members of various search and rescue groups in the Northwest Florida area, including Escambia Search and Rescue, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue and Klass Kids. This marks the highest number of SARTECH II certifications in the history of search and rescue in the area.
The new SARTECH II certificated individuals are:
- Barbara Blades
- Tina Blake
- Reginald Bruster
- Michelle Caputo
- Jakob Connor
- Glenn Cox
- Adrienne Dahlberg
- Don Esty
- Stacy Hayden
- David Hill
- Michael Lady
- Zachary Litgen
- Donna Mason-Smith
- Alexandra McLaughlin
- Thomas Provo
- Elesebeth Rodgers
- Jarred Snyder
- Kevin Winingar
NorthEscambia file photo, click to enlarge.
Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship Applications Accepted
March 12, 2012
Applications are being accepted now for the Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship to be presented to a Flomaton or Jay high school senior.
The student must have played at last two years of high school football, baseball, softball or track/field and have at least a 2.5 overall GPA. Or, the student must be willing to pursue advanced studies in the forestry field after high school. Students from Jay must have a parent who is a current member of the Santa Rosa Professional Educators association.
Applications are due by April 15 and can be obtained from the guidance departments at Jay and Flomaton high schools.
Three Carjacking Suspects Arrested After Escambia SWAT Standoff
March 12, 2012
Three Gulf Breeze carjacking suspects were arrested Sunday in Escambia County after a SWAT standoff.
The armed carjacking took place at the Gulf Breeze Car Wash just after 7 p.m. Saturday. Three male suspects, one armed with a handgun, took the victim’s 2000 Dodge Ram along with his wallet, keys and cell phone.
Pensacola Police Officers located the stolen vehicle Sunday morning at the Travel Inn on West Cervantes Street. Police said the suspects refused to come to the door of their hotel room. The immediate area was evacuated while police obtained a search warrant for the room.
After a few hours, as a SWAT team was preparing to make entry, the suspects voluntarily exited the room and were taken into custody without incident.
Three Pensacola men — Malcolm Mahummed Wright, 18, Kardale Lamara Black, 22, and Marquise Demetris Jenkins, 18 — were all charged with armed carjacking in connection with the incident.
Bill Would Use Lost Change To Help American Troops
March 11, 2012
Lost change would help go to help American troops under a bill by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller.
Miller’s “Lost Change” bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transfer unclaimed money recovered at airport security checkpoints to United Service Organizations (USO) for its airport programs in support of the military. The bill has passed the Homeland Security Subcommittee.
In fiscal 2010, over $400,000 was collected at TSA airport security checkpoints. That money is then used to support the TSA’s budget.
“The TSA has been keeping the money from your change purse to pay for their bloated bureaucracy,” said Miller. “If TSA representatives get to play ‘finders keepers’ with your hard-earned cash, what’s the incentive to try to get the loose change to its rightful owners?”
The USO is a non-profit organization that is chartered by the U.S. Congress. Each USO airport center provides a place for servicemen and women to enjoy a welcoming atmosphere, connect with family, and utilize the services provided by the USO. Last year, USO centers were visited over 8 million times.
“Congressman Miller is a strong advocate for our men and women in uniform, and I commend him today for this bill that will help support the USO that serves our military as they leave and return in our airports. I am pleased this bill passed the subcommittee today,” said Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers.
“I would much rather see unclaimed change go to help military personnel on their way to and from the battlefield,” Miller added. “The lost change should be put to good use, and I know the USO will make those thousands of coins have a positive impact on millions of our nation’s warriors. I applaud Chairman Rogers’ efforts in helping to get this bill through committee, and I look forward to its final passage.
Flomaton Beats Mobile Christian
March 11, 2012
Flomaton beat Mobile Christian 3-0 Saturday in area play. With the win, Flomaton improved to 7-3 and is on a six game winning streak.
Zack Watson pitch a complete game no-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk. Watson started the second inning with a double followed by Tyler Dove with a single to advance the runner and Watson scored on a past ball. Andrew Cash started the third inning with a single and later scored on a past ball that inning.
In the fourth inning, Jacob Newton was walked on balls and Trey Weeks bunted Newton in on a sacrifice bunt.
Flomaton Hurricanes played an almost perfect game on defense with only one error. Watson( 3-1) was the winning pitcher and Kade Suther took the loss for Mobile Christian.
Bratt Students Help Set National Accelerated Reading Record
March 11, 2012
Students at Bratt Elementary School took part in the recent “Read the Most from Coast to Coast” event and helped set a new national record for the number of Accelerated Reader quizzes taken in one day.
Students across the country, from coast to coast, set a new one day record of 3,581,992 AR tests, breaking the old record of 2,177,586.
At Bratt Elementary, students took 210 AR quizzes with 178 passed during the event. Toatl AR points earned by Bratt students were 140.9.