Opinion ID: 522863
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: felci as a mere subordinate

Text: 78 Felci next contends that the Medicare statute was not meant to reach subordinate, minor actors such as himself. Even assuming Felci was such an actor--a tenuous assumption given Felci's unique experience and position with respect to the ambulance contracts--we think that the statute does reach minor actors. The language of the statute makes no distinction on the basis of control or extent of participation. Indeed, the phrase purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering (emphasis added) in the statute implies that one need not be in a position of control in order to be guilty of Medicare Fraud. Felci points to nothing in the legislative history to suggest that Congress intended otherwise. Furthermore, case law does not require a bribee to be a major player or in control of the transaction in order to be found guilty. See Gjieli, 717 F.2d at 973. Felci's reliance on the Judge Jones' concurrence in United States v. Tapert, 625 F.2d at 121-23, is misplaced. That case dealt with an earlier version of the Medicaid Fraud statute which was significantly different from the statute at issue here. Compare Tapert, 625 F.2d at 113 n. 1 with note 1 supra. It seems clear that a mere bit player may be guilty of Medicare Fraud.