U.S. Court denies bail for “Pzo”
A court in the USA has rejected the petition to release three Armenian nationals charged with a large-scale medical insurance fraud on bail.
The court declined Tuesday the bail for Vartan Boyzadzhyan, Armen Kazarian (nicnamed Pro), and Herayer Baghoumian, accused of taking part in a scheme to defraud Medicare of $163 million. The court found that they could take to flight and pose a threat to the country's economy.
The men were ordered to remain under the custody of U.S. Marshals and transported to New York, where they will face healthcare fraud charges stemming from the scheme that involved dozens of people who established phantom medical clinics and submitted bogus claims to Medicare.
Kazarian's attorney is Mark Geragos, who presented Armenia's interests in a claim against New York Life, Axa insurance agencies.
Geragos said his client had serious health problems and the judge granted a request that a physician visit Kazarian.
The judge also granted bail for Burbank Armenian resident Artur Yepiskoposyan, 31, whose friends and families offered to put up their homes and jewelry for his release. The judge put restrictions his release, which would only be granted if $1.6 million was paid in full for the bail.
Yepiskoposyan will also be required to wear an electronic monitoring device while under house arrest.
