North Texas doctor sentenced to nearly 17 years for fraud

DALLAS (AP) — A North Texas physician must serve nearly 17 years in federal prison and repay $34 million in a health care services fraud case involving home visits.

Dr. Noble U. Ezukanma of Fort Worth was sentenced Wednesday in Dallas. Prosecutors say the 57-year-old Ezukanma was part of a more than $50 million Medicare fraud scheme.

The physician was convicted in March of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.

Prosecutors say a co-defendant, Myrna S. Parcon of Dallas, was sentenced last month to 10 years in prison and ordered to repay about $51 million in the scam involving Medicare beneficiaries.

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Investigators say many patients were certified for home health care, whether they needed it or not, from 2009 through mid-2013.