By Britney Milazzo
On the third day of trial Friday against Scott D. Geise, the Newfane dentist pleaded guilty to felony charges of filing false health care claims and a false tax return.
Geise, 48, of 2535 W. Creek Road and owner of Newfane Family Dentistry on Main Street, was indicted on 57-counts charging him with filing false claims against three insurance companies between July 7, 2002, and Dec. 12, 2006.
He pleaded guilty after Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Jack E. Rogowski presented evidence against him to a 15-member jury.
Prosecution said Geise admitted to performing dental procedures, knowing they were not covered by his clients’ insurance companies, then billing either Delta Dental, Blue Cross and Blue Shield or Aetna for the procedure under a different name.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in state prison and a $250,000 fine.
Lynch and Rogowski also said Friday the defendant admitted to “employing an additional scheme to defraud General Motors’ and Delphi’s self-insured dental insurance plan” and that he “failed to record cash receipts for his business as income.”
Prosecutors said the defendant billed the insurance companies for silver fillings instead of a “sealant” over his patients’ teeth.
On corporate tax returns from 2003 to 2005, Geise reportedly failed to list more than $188,000 in income and failed to pay $58,254 in taxes.
“The defendant agreed to repay taxes owed on his personal returns in the amount of $29,527,” Lynch said in a statement.
A report from the Department of Justice said the plea was the culmination of an investigation with local and national law enforcement agencies.
Sentencing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. June 14 in federal court in Buffalo.
Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
