Stamford Doctor Fined, Sentenced to Probation for Medicare Fraud

A Stamford podiatrist who pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare of more than $200,00 in false claims was sentenced to three years probation and must pay a fine that’s more than triple the amount of the claims paid to her.

Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced Tuesday that Amira Mantoura, 53, of Greenwich, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford in connection with the case that involved her receiving $206,000 in reimbursement by submitting false claims to Medicare and other health insurance plans. Mantoura also will be required to perform 200 hours of community service.

Mantoura, who operates podiatry practice at 95 Morgan St. in Stamford, pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, to one count of making a false statement to the Medicare program.

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According to court documents and statements made in court, Mantoura billed insurance carriers for performing nail avulsion procedures — a surgical procedure to treat ingrown toenails, when in most cases she provided routine foot care including clipping patients’ toenails. The government claimed the fraud was carried out between January 2009 and August 2013.

Mantoura was required to pay approximately $64,000 in restitution to private health insurance plans. She also paid $288,538.24 to the government in connection with her submission of false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid program, which was twice the amount of false claims Mantoura submitted to those programs, according to Daly’s office. As part of her sentence, Mantoura was ordered to pay an additional $266,000 fine, which will result in her paying a total of $618,000, or three times the amount she gained from her fraud.

Mantoura must pay the restitution within seven days and pay the fine within 90 days.

Also Mantoura has been excluded from the Medicare program and is longer permitted to submit federal health care claims.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Sheldon and Anne F. Thidemann.

Daly said that anyone who suspects health care fraud can report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at 203-777-6311 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.