A Metro Detroit surgeon was sentenced on April 16 to one year in federal prison for participating in a scheme that submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address healthcare fraud, which officials say undermines public trust and diverts resources from programs intended for those in need.
Mustafa Hares, 79, of West Bloomfield received a sentence of 12 months in prison from U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin A. Drain. In addition to the prison term, Hares was ordered to pay $4.8 million in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release after his incarceration.
Court records show that between 2019 and 2023, Hares and others engaged in a scheme involving more than $7 million in false claims for psychotherapy services that were never provided. The records indicate that Hares worked with Mohammed Kazkaz to sign patient progress notes actually written by employees based in Mexico rather than licensed medical providers. Kazkaz has already been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for his involvement.
“This physician abused his medical license and position of trust as a doctor to facilitate a massive health care fraud scheme at the expense of the American taxpayer. We must eradicate fraud,” Gorgon said.
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said: “Medicare fraud is theft from the American people, and physicians who exploit it for personal gain will be held responsible for their actions.” She added: “The defendant’s sentencing for this multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud scheme reflects the significant impact of his actions… Together, we remain committed to protecting the integrity of our healthcare system and those who depend on it.”
Mario Pinto, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), commented: “Patients place enormous trust in their medical providers, and schemes like this not only defraud Medicare but also betray that trust… When practitioners misuse their credentials… they jeopardize the care and well-being of the very people these programs are designed to protect.” Pinto stated that law enforcement remains committed “to uncovering such misconduct” so those responsible are held accountable.
Federal officials report that combating such schemes is part of broader initiatives including the National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice as well as President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud—efforts aimed at investigating waste or abuse within federal benefit programs.
