United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, May 30, 2008, that Robert Bates, a resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to three years probation, ten months home detention and payment of $152,689.00 restitution on his conviction of health care fraud.

United States District Judge Gary L. Lancaster imposed the sentence on Bates, age 56.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney James Y. Garrett, Bates participated in a scheme to defraud Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  From September 1, 1996 through December 31, 2002, he cooperated with a chiropractor who  submitted false claims for reimbursement of the cost of fictitious treatment.  For his cooperation, the chiropractor paid Bates about $19,500.00 during the scheme.

Ms. Buchanan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bates.