Thirty-five people were charged with insurance fraud following a two-year sting operation that involved federal officials operating a fake chiropractic clinic in Northeast Philadelphia.
The clinic, called Injury Associates, solicited people to take part in a scheme to submit false paperwork to insurance companies for personal injury claims in alleged car accidents.
U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan said undercover FBI personnel conducting the sting told people who came into the office that they would be part of a fraud and gave them the chance to not participate. No medical care was provided in the office.
Those charged were 31 fake patients, a lawyer and three “runners” who went out into the community to find fake patients.
According to Meehan, $1.5 million in fraudulent claims were filed during the sting operation and $350,000 was paid out by insurance companies that included Allstate, Nationwide and State Farm.