Clay Today staff
Jacksonville man arrested following wild chase on Blanding Boulevard
MIDDLEBURG – Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to arrest a Jacksonville man after a wild chase on Blanding Boulevard that included him driving 70 mph the wrong way with only three wheels.
Carlmel Joshua Butler, 24, was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft auto, fleeing at a high rate of speed without regard to the safety to others or property and driving with a suspended license after a deputy was alerted on Saturday, Jan. 17, a car reported stolen in Jacksonville was spotted near Henley and Sandridge roads.
The car was spotted again leaving the First Coast Expressway at Blanding, and two deputies followed the car toward Brannan Field Road when they attempted to stop him. According to the arrest report, that’s when Butler made a U-turn and started to flee.
During the chase, one deputy attempted a Pursuit Immobilization Technique, which caused the right-rear wheel to break free from the car. Butler continued to drive away, driving north in the southbound lanes at 70 mph.
Butler eventually struck a CCSO squad car, but he continued driving the wrong way in the southbound lanes until he drove into a ditch near Coppergate Drive where he was arrested.
His bond was set at $720,014.
Woman arrested on drug charges while driving stolen car
ORANGE PARK – Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered two bags of cocaine, one bag of fentanyl, six bags of methamphetamine and an assortment of drug paraphernalia while they were taking inventory of a stolen vehicle, which led to the arrest of a Jacksonville woman.
April Villaruel Sparkman, 42, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to manufacture, distribute or sell, possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license on Monday, Jan. 12, when she was pulled over on Blanding Boulevard after a CCSO deputy was alerted the car was reported stolen in Jacksonville.
After she was detained, deputies couldn’t contact the owner, so they called for a tow truck. They were required to inventory the contents before the Kia Sportage was towed and they found “several bags and purses sitting on the passenger seat.” Inside those bags, they found a total of 7.3 grams of cocaine, .9 grams of fentanyl, 8.8 grams of methamphetamine, a switchblade knife, a digital scale, plastic spoon, pink pen, mirror, hand sanitizer and a gift card to Bath and Body Works.
Her bond was set at $161,013, and her next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 10.
Clay Eye, one of five ophthalmology practices to pay for false billings
WASHINGTON — Florida ophthalmology practices Clay Eye Holdings LLC, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC, Florida Eye Institute P.A., Miami Eye LLC and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. have agreed to pay a total of nearly $6 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act arising from their billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (TCDs) through a kickback arrangement with a third-party testing company. All five practices have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.
“Kickbacks and false claims increase healthcare costs for all Americans and undermine the integrity of healthcare decision-making,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Combatting such schemes will continue to be a priority for the Justice Department.”
“These settlements are a continuing testament to the United States’ commitment to fight healthcare fraud and ensure that federal healthcare dollars are spent consistently with the law,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.
“Submitting false claims destroys the public’s trust in our federally funded healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Working together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to prioritize safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system and hold accountable those who try to profit from deception.”
“Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo Carcas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”
The settlements announced today resolve allegations that the settling practices knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. The settling practices performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, the practices and the third-party testing company identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had that diagnosis, and it was not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. The settling practices paid the third-party testing company based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the testing company’s preferred radiology group for the TCDs’ professional component.
The United States alleged that as a result of this scheme, the settling practices submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs between Jan. 1, 2018 and June 1, 2022 that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law.
As a result of the settlements, Clay Eye Holdings LLC will pay $2,140,000, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC will pay $1,750,000, Florida Eye Institute P.A. will pay $1,250,000, Miami Eye LLC will pay $525,000 and Kendall Eye Institute Inc. will pay $310,000. Of the total settlement amount, $333,500 will be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.
The civil settlements resolved claims in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $1,135,250 in connection with the settlements.