Bucks Co. Amtrak Employee Nabbed In $11M Kickback Scheme: Feds

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Levittown man who worked for Amtrak participated in an $11 million health care fraud scheme to defraud the transportation agency, federal authorities said.

Five Amtrak employees recently admitted to participating in the scheme, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced out of Newark, N.J., on Wednesday.

David McBrien, 37, of Levittown, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to the indictment charging conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

From January 2019 through June 2022, McBrien, Frink, Toal, Walker, Lonergan, and their co-conspirators — who were also Amtrak employees — engaged in a scheme to obtain cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for their agreement to allow their health insurance plan to be billed for services that were never provided and were not medically necessary.

In total, as a result of the conspiracy, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $11 million in fraudulent claims associated with providers connected to the scheme.

Others involved were Kevin Frink, 53, of Willingboro, N.J., Michael Toal, 35, of Hazlet, N.J., Damany Walker, 41, of Irvington, N.J., and David Lonergan, 65, of Rockaway Park, N.Y.

Each defendant received thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for their participation in the scheme, including from Punson Figueroa, an acupuncturist.

McBrien, Frink, Walker, and Lonergan also received cash kickbacks from Michael DeNicola, a podiatrist.

The health care fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

McBrien’s sentencing is scheduled for July 24.