U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Wisler Cyrius to three years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering.
The court also ordered him to pay $270,329.92 in restitution to the victim automobile insurance companies, and to forfeit property in the amount of the proceeds traceable to the offense.
Cyrius pleaded guilty on May 18, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, Cyrius conspired with others to operate unlicensed chiropractic clinics and to bill automobile insurance companies for personal injury protection (“PIP”) benefits. Prosecutors said that the conspirators also paid patients to induce them to seek treatment at particular chiropractic clinics so they could bill automobile insurance companies for their PIP benefits. In addition, members of the conspiracy participated in staged motor vehicle accidents and submitted claims to automobile insurance companies for PIP benefits based on those fake accidents, according to the government.
Four others previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in this conspiracy. Garry Joseph pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison. Anouce Toussaint was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to launder money. Maria Victoria Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was sentenced to three years' probation. David Adamson, a licensed chiropractor, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and received five years' probation with 180 days of home detention.
A fifth individual, Nesly Loute, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud following a six-day jury trial. On February 27, 2017, he was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].