Former Irondequoit Dentist Guilty Of Bilking Medicaid

Attorney General Spitzer announced today that a pediatric dentist who formerly practiced in Monroe County pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, in County Court, admitting that he defrauded the Medicaid program.

The Superior Court Information, filed with the Court, alleges that David Douglas Gardner, 44, of Penfield caused the submission of Medicaid claims that falsely represented that he filled the teeth of dozens of young patients, when in fact he did not. Small Smiles Dentistry, of Irondequoit, New York, has cooperated with the investigation and already repaid the State approximately $444,000.

Gardner, who pled guilty on May 10, is surrendering his dental license, is expected to be sentenced to six months in prison and five years of probation when he appears before Acting Monroe County Judge Stephen Lindley for sentencing on June 28, 2006.
"My office is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars designated for the care of needy children are not diverted by unscrupulous providers," said Spitzer. "During federal fiscal year 2005, my office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) recovered a record setting $219 million."

Gardner was employed by Small Smiles from November 2004 until his termination on August 31, 2005.

The case is being prosecuted by Jerry Solomon, Rochester Regional Director of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Special Investigator Arthur Vasile and Supervising Auditor/Investigator Heather Helms assisted in the investigation.