Hartselle-Republican, State Rep. Ed Henry, claims he is not guilty of any crimes.
Henry was indicted on Thursday by Middle District U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. The Republican representative was named as the fourteenth defendant to be indicted in connection with a federal pill mill case in Montgomery. He is charged with conspiracy to pay kickbacks to defraud the United States, unrelated to his position in the state Legislature.
On Thursday afternoon Henry posted a statement on his personal facebook page, saying he is not guilty of any crimes.
“I’ve always been as open and transparent as possible,” said Henry on facebook.
“For the last 8 years I have fought the government from further encroachment on our Freedoms. Today began my fight with the Federal Government for my freedom. So while I would like to lay everything on the table for all to see, that would not be wise while fighting an opponent that has endless resources like our Government.”
“My goal was to help patients, and I did. Using a program established and promoted by Medicare, I helped chronically ill patients and saved the taxpayers’ money. For that, I have been charged with multiple Felonies.”
“I am not guilty of any crimes.”
From 2015 through 2017, Henry was an owner, and CEO of a health care company, MyPractice24, Inc. (MyPractice24). His company provided non-face-to-face chronic care management services to Medicare beneficiaries who had two or more chronic conditions. Using contracts with primary care physicians the doctors would pay Henry’s company to provide these chronic care management services to the doctors’ patients, the company would provide the services, the doctors would bill Medicare for the services, and then the doctors would pay Henry’s company a share of the reimbursements received from Medicare.
In 2016, Henry entered into an agreement with Dr. Gilberto Sanchez, a Montgomery physician who has subsequently pleaded guilty to drug distribution, health care fraud, and money laundering charges. Under that agreement, MyPractice24 would provide various kickbacks to Dr. Sanchez and his staff in return for the providers at Dr. Sanchez’s practice referring Medicare beneficiaries to MyPractice24 for chronic care management services.
The indictment charges Henry with one count of conspiring to pay kickbacks and to defraud the United States, one count of conspiring to commit health care fraud, five counts of health care fraud, and money laundering charges.
If convicted of the most serious offense, Henry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, significant monetary penalties, asset forfeiture, and restitution.
