Federal prosecutors today filed criminal charges against nine defendants – seven of them dockworkers at the Port of Long Beach – who allowed more than $2.1 million in fraudulent claims to be submitted to their labor union’s health insurance plan for sexual services or for physical therapy that never was provided.
The conspiracy’s ringleader, Sara Victoria, 46, of San Pedro, is charged in an information filed today with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The plea agreements for Victoria and the other eight defendants were filed today in United States District Court, and they are expected to make their initial court appearances in the coming weeks.
According to her plea agreement, from January 2017 to August 2021, Victoria owned and operated three business: Back to Life Wellness Center LLC and The Chiroman Wellness Center – both based in San Pedro – and the Wilmington-based Waterfront Wellness Center Inc. These companies offered patients chiropractic services, acupuncture treatments, and also sexual services.
Victoria knew that dock workers and others involved in the shipping industry in Long Beach had health insurance under the International Longshore and Warehouse Union – Pacific Maritime Association (ILWU-PMA) benefit plan. This plan generally covered all chiropractic services with no deductible and without requiring plan members to contribute any copay amount or out-of-pocket services.
Heh.