Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, has announced the conviction of Ted Albin for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme. Albin was found guilty after a 12-day jury trial overseen by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
“Ted Albin brazenly defrauded our Medicare system using fake and fraudulent prescriptions,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He cheated Medicare out of millions meant for real patients with every taxpayer footing the bill. Today’s verdict makes clear: if you cheat Medicare, you will be prosecuted.”
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that from approximately 2016 through April 2021, Albin operated Grapevine Professional Services, a medical billing company he used to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims for durable medical equipment (DME). This included back braces, knee braces, wrist braces, and shoulder braces. Thousands of fraudulent claims were submitted on behalf of DME supply companies that engaged Grapevine's services. At least three of these companies—Liberty Bell Medical, Skye Medical, and Priority Medical—were owned and controlled by Albin and his sister Erin Foley.
Albin's fraudulent claims were based on prescriptions illegally bought with kickbacks paid by the DME supply companies. Some prescriptions billed by Albin featured forged doctor signatures and disregarded the actual medical needs of patients prescribed these braces. Despite knowing the fraudulent nature of these claims, Albin continued submitting them over several years. The DME companies involved billed Medicare over $38 million in total, receiving more than $12 million in payments.
Albin, aged 48 from Stuart, Florida, was convicted on multiple counts: one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud (maximum sentence: 20 years), one count of health care fraud (maximum sentence: 10 years), one count of wire fraud (maximum sentence: 20 years), and one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute (maximum sentence: five years). Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2025.
Mr. Clayton commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
The case is being managed by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Kinder, Jackie Delligatti, Brandon Thompson, and Ryan Finkel leading the prosecution.
