Michael Brier, the former owner of 14 addiction recovery centers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for health care fraud.
Brier, 62, was convicted of overbilling federal programs by millions of dollars while providing inadequate treatment to patients.
His fraudulent scheme included cutting appointments short or billing for appointments that never occurred.
Brier’s actions, which deprived patients of necessary services, were driven by personal greed, including purchasing luxury items like a car and a condo in Panama.
His previous criminal history, including past convictions for embezzlement and tax fraud, also played a role in his sentencing.
The judge emphasized that Brier chose to defraud vulnerable individuals for his own gain, leading to a sentence of eight years and two months in prison.