David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today, Thursday, December 12, that Pierre Charles Moise, 57, of Apopka, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, December 10, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to concealing from insurance companies the fact that he paid patients to attend his chiropractic clinic. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the plea.
According to court documents, Moise owned and operated the Wellness Health Center (WHC), a chiropractic clinic, in Milford, Delaware. Between at least January 2019 and March 2022, Moise himself and through others paid patients who had been in recent car accidents to attend treatment sessions at the WHC irrespective of whether that treatment was needed. At his instruction, WHC employees then submitted claims for reimbursement to insurance companies, who, under Delaware’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law, were obligated to pay WHC for that treatment.
Moise and WHC received over $630,000 from insurance companies due to that fraud scheme.
Moise pleaded guilty to making a false statement regarding health care matters and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Moise defrauded insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of Delaware’s PIP laws,” Weiss stated. “Those laws are designed to help put injured individuals back on their feet, not to enrich criminal actors. My office is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in such criminal schemes that hurt all Delawareans by increasing insurance costs for everyone.”
“Moise’s business model revolved around defrauding automobile insurers. Instead of operating a legitimate chiropractic clinic, he actively sought patients who did not need treatment, paying them to visit his office unnecessarily and then filing fraudulent claims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure those who engage in such deceptive actions are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency with assistance from investigators with the Delaware Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger, Meredith C. Ruggles, and Shamoor Anis are prosecuting the case.
The Apopka Chief and The Planter are weekly community newspapers, independently owned and family operated, that have served the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923 and 1965 respectively.
Follow The Apopka Chief on Facebook.
Follow The Apopka Chief on X.
Follow The Apopka Chief on Instagram.
