NORFOLK — On, Tuesday, May 18, a former obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) was sentenced to 59 years in prison after a jury convicted him on 52 counts of healthcare fraud and other charges that arose from performing irreversible hysterectomies, sterilizations, early labor inductions, and other procedures deemed medically unnecessary on patients.
Javaid Perwaiz, approximately 71 years old, practiced as an OB/GYN in Hampton Roads since the 1980s. Court records showed that between 2010 to 2019, the former doctor executed a scheme to defraud health insurance companies. During that period of time, Perwaiz caused approximately $20.8 million in losses to both private and government health care insurers after performing irreversible hysterectomies and other surgical procedures that were medically unnecessary for his patients.
The evidence found that in many of these cases, Perwaiz would falsely tell his patients that they needed these surgeries because they allegedly had or were needing to avoid cancer. Many of the surgeries were then performed within days of the false diagnosis.
“Motivated by his insatiable and reprehensible greed, Perwaiz used an arsenal of horrifying tactics to manipulate and deceive patients into undergoing invasive, unnecessary, and devastating medical procedures,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Raj Parekh.
The evidence presented at Perwaiz’s trial showed that he also falsified records for pregnant patients so that labor would be induced prior to the recommended safe gestational age that would minimize risk to both mother and baby just to ensure that he would be reimbursed for the deliveries.
Perwaiz also violated Medicaid’s required 30-day waiting period before performing elective sterilizations by submitting backdated forms which falsely made it appear as though he complied with the waiting period.
He also billed insurance companies hundreds of thousands of dollars for diagnostic procedures that he did not perform in his office.
More than 25 former patients testified, over 60 Victim Impact Statements were entered into evidence and the FBI received hundreds of tips through a hotline. Additionally, witnesses, including nurses who worked at hospitals where Perwaiz performed his surgeries, testified that they complained about his practices to their supervisors.
On November 9, 2020, a federal jury convicted Perwaiz on 52 counts of health care fraud and false statements.
“Today’s sentence is a significant step toward justice for the women Perwaiz preyed upon and harmed through his deception, betrayal, and greed,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “The FBI is committed to stopping predators like Perwaiz who abuse their position of trust, but this outcome was ultimately made possible by the brave victims and nurses who deserve our gratitude for coming forward and exposing his horrible criminal conduct.”
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