Oakland Co. Doctor Pleads Guilty In $400K Insurance Fraud: Officials

SYLVAN LAKE, MI — An Oakland County doctor pleaded guilty in a $400,000 insurance fraud scheme, the Michigan Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday.

Rainna Furnari Brazil, 57, of Sylvan Lake, pleaded guilty to three counts of false pretenses of $100,000 or more, two counts of false pretenses between $20,000 and $50,000, two counts of failure to file taxes and one count of insurance fraud.

Officials said Brazil, who was a licensed osteopathic physician, applied for and received disability insurance payments from the Unum Life Insurance Company of America.

Though Brazil had been working as a physician, she repeatedly refused to tell the insurance company in order to keep collecting the disability payments, officials said.

Officials said Brazil collected more than $400,000 in disability insurance payments from 2017 through 2021.

Under the plea agreement, Brazil agreed to pay a total of $458,962 in restitution, officials said.

If Brazil pays an additional $100,000 toward restitution during the 11-month delayed sentence, officials will drop some charges and she will serve no longer than one year in jail, officials said.

Full restitution payment could further reduce the charges to false pretenses alone, with a sentencing range of 0 to 17 months, officials said.

If she fails to pay at least $100,000, she will be sentenced on all charges, officials said.

"Fraudulent activities can harm legitimate claimants, and I am pleased that we were able to secure a just resolution in this matter," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "My department remains committed to holding accountable those who break the law."