OHIO (WKBN/WTWO/WAWV) — A Wabash Valley doctor who was caught up in a kickback scheme involving two other physicians accepted a plea agreement in June in federal court in Ohio.
Samir Wahib pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit, receive offers and pay kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program and to four counts of receipt of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program.
Full docket text:
Minutes of proceedings [non-document] before Judge J. Philip Calabrese. Change of Plea hearing as to Samir Wahib (1) held on June 7, 2023. Michael Collyer appeared for the United States. Adam J. Hollingsworth appeared for the Defendant, who was also present. Plea agreement executed. Guilty plea entered by Samir Wahib as to Counts One, Two, Three, Four, and Five of the Indictment. The Defendant is referred to the United States Pretrial and Probation Department for the preparation of a Presentence Report. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for September 12, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., in Courtroom 16B before Judge J. Philip Calabrese. No later than September 5, 2023, sentencing memoranda, including any and all documents or other materials counsel wish the Court to consider at sentencing, are due. If there is a factual dispute on which testimony is expected at the sentencing hearing, the parties are directed to advise the Court as soon as possible so that the Court may set up a pre-sentencing hearing to discuss logistics for the sentencing hearing. Defendant remanded to remain on bond as previously set. (Court Reporter George Staiduhar) Time: 30 minutes. (R,AP)Full text of PACER post regarding Dr. Wahib’s change of plea hearing on June 7
Investigators say that Wahib conspired with Joni Canby and Michelle Kapon to take money in exchange for arranging for tests for sexually transmitted diseases through federal healthcare programs. Prosecutors alleged much of the testing was unnecessary, with at least one patient being a 3-year-old child.
The indictment in the 2021 case said that Kapon and Canby sent their specimens to Wahib to be tested and received payments of $15 to $20 per specimen from Wahib. That document showed thousands of dollars paid to Kapon and Canby from Wahib. Wahib allegedly then billed and was paid by the federal government for this testing.
The scheme lasted from March 2014 to January 2017, the court documents said.
The doctors practiced in Youngstown, Ohio and the surrounding areas.
Sentencing for Wahib is scheduled for September 12 following a presentence investigation.
Currently Dr. Wahib works at Sullivan County Community Hospital. When reached for comment, SCCH CEO Michelle Franklin responded with the following;
“Dr. Samir Wahib, the respected OB-GYN provider of our community hospital, did choose to plead guilty to a violation of the federal anti-kickback statute, for conduct related to financial matters alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2016.
We would like to emphasize that we sincerely believe that this alleged conduct does not represent who Dr. Samir Wahib is today, both as a health care provider and as a person. Since he has been a member of our care team, Dr. Wahib has only shown respect and empathy while delivering the excellent care he routinely provides to his patients, who could not be more satisfied with the OB-GYN services they receive from Dr. Wahib.
This alleged conduct never has had, and never will have, an impact on the quality of the care Dr. Wahib provides to his patients.”
Canby and Kapon both pleaded guilty to their involvement in the case. According to public court records found on PACER, Canby was sentenced on June 23 to two years probation to run concurrently for a total of 1 year of probation with mandatory, standard, and special conditions. Canby must also pay a fine of $30,000 and restitution in the amount of $135,632 jointly with the co-defendants.
Read the entire federal indictment below;
WKBN’s Patty Coller contributed to this report.
