A federal grand jury has indicted a Western Arkansas man over allegations of health care fraud involving $100 million in Medicare billing.

Billy Joe Taylor of Lavaca, who owned or managed numerous diagnostic testing laboratories, has been accused of false billings for urine drug testing, COVID-19 testing, and other clinical laboratory services, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)  said in a press release. The indictment includes 16 counts of health care fraud and another one for engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property.

The DOJ claimed Taylor Billy was engaged in the alleged scheme between February 2017 and May 2021. He allegedly obtained various personal and medical information of different medical beneficiaries engaged in the misuse of such confidential information by submitting diagnostic test claims to Medicare that were never ordered by health care professionals and were never actually carried out.

"Billy Joe Taylord used the fraud proceeds ... to live a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing luxury itemssuch as automobiles, jewelry, guitars, and other items using the proceeds of the fraud," the indictment reads.

Taylor's arraignment will be held via Zoom in Fort Smith at 1 pm on November 23 before Magistrate Judge Mark E. Ford. 

Each count that Taylor has been accused of has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

In addition to the DOJ, the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Dallas Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation also took part in the investigation.