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Man Enters Plea In Homeless Health Care Fraud Case

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Aug 11, 2008 10:57 am US/Pacific

Man Enters Plea In Homeless Health Care Fraud Case

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The operator of a Skid Row health assessment center has denied taking kickbacks to recruit homeless people as bogus patients for three Southern California hospitals.

Estill Mitts pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, money laundering and other charges in U.S. District Court on Monday.

A federal indictment accuses the 64-year-old Mitts of receiving as much as $20,000 a month to deliver homeless people for unnecessary medical procedures.

Authorities allege the hospitals, in turn, billed government programs millions of dollars.

Mitts has been ordered to home detention after posting a $25,000 bond.

He and his lawyer Dominic Cantalupo declined comment.

A trial date has been set for Sept. 30.

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