Bronx Dentist Admits $650,000 Medicaid Theft

Attorney General Spitzer today announced that a Bronx dentist excluded from participating in the Medicaid program sixteen years ago has admitted to stealing more than $650,000 from taxpayers by using the provider identification of a former associate to bill for services he provided.

Dr. David Sobel, 61, of 5 Sagamore Drive in Syosset, appeared Wednesday before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Phylis Skloot Bamberger and pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in satisfaction of the 57-count indictment pending against him since July 2002.

Sentencing was set for April 30, 2003, at which time it is anticipated that Dr. Sobel will be sentenced to a term of one to three years in state prison.

In his plea, Dr. Sobel admitted that between February 1989 and January 2000 he submitted numerous reimbursement claims in which he falsely represented that dental services had been provided to Medicaid recipients by Dr. Steven Eidman when, in fact, the services were either not rendered or were rendered by Dr. Sobel. In 1986, Dr. Sobel had been excluded from the Medicaid program and, as a result, he was not entitled to bill Medicaid for services provided to Medicaid patients. As a result of these misrepresentations, Dr. Eidman improperly received more than $650,000 from Medicaid, which he and Dr. Sobel shared.

Dr. Eidman, of 2685 University Avenue in the Bronx, was arrested in May 2002 and pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. Dr. Eidman was sentenced on September 10, 2002, to five years' probation and has made restitution of $423,891 to the Medicaid program. The restitution includes reimbursement of questionable billings related to his own practice, as well as money acquired through his scheme with Dr. Sobel. As part of his plea, Dr. Sobel agreed to make restitution of $300,000 to the Medicaid program.

Dr. Sobel's dental practice is located at 2190 Boston Road in the Bronx.

Spitzer noted that his office has referred the matter to the state Education Department's Office of the Professions for a review of Drs. Sobel and Eidman's dental licenses.

The Attorney General thanked the state Department of Health for referring the matter to his office.

Special Assistant Attorney General Arlene S. Osterer, of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit's New York City Office, prosecuted the case. Assisting in the investigation was Supervising Special Auditor Investigator Helen Long and Special Investigator Hazel E. Walters.