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(McALLEN, Texas) – A federal grand jury in McAllen has indicted cardiologist Fabian Aurignac for health care fraud, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. Aurignac, formerly of McAllen, was arrested today in Austin, Texas, where he was to appear before the Texas Medical Board for a hearing regarding the suspension of his medical license. He is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Austin today at 3:00 p.m. The case will be prosecuted in McAllen. The eight-count indictment, returned under seal Oct. 21, 2008, and unsealed today following his arrest, accuses Aurignac of defrauding the Medicaid and Medicare health care benefit programs by means of false and fraudulent claims in connection with the use of unlicensed, foreign doctors and medical personal and for billing for medical services not rendered. Aurignac, 45, faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, if convicted. The investigation leading to the charges in this case was conducted by the FBI and the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Ferko is prosecuting the case. An Indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law. |
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