Sri J. “Dr. J” Wijegunaratne Gets 27 Months in Prison for Wheelchair Fraud Scam

An Anaheim doctor who helped get unneeded motorized wheelchairs and other equipment for patients as part of a fraud scheme against the government was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison.

Dr. Sri J. “Dr. J” Wijegunaratne, 50, had been found guilty in April for his role in the scheme that billed Medicare about $1.5 million.

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Dr. Sri J. Wijegunaratne of Anaheim Guilty of Role in $1.5 Medicare Billing Fraud Scheme

Co-defendant Godwin Onyeabor, who ran a San Bernardino medical supply firm that fraudulently billed Medicare and paid kickbacks to the doctor, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.

Several Medicare beneficiaries testified during the trial in Los Angeles that they were lured to clinics with the promise of free items such as vitamins and juice, only to receive motorized wheelchairs that they did not need or want.

Two others defendants, Heidi Morishita and Victoria N. Onyeabor, are scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, respectively.

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