throbber
Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 1 of 249 PageID #: 1
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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`C.A. No.
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`ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY,
`ALLSTATE FIRE & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY,
`AND
`ALLSTATE PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
`COMPANY,
`
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`
`vs.
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`HOLLIS NOVEL COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL, P.C.,
`STARRETT CITY MEDICAL, P.C.,
`HILLCREST MEDICAL CARE, P.C.,
`SMART CHOICE MEDICAL, P.C.,
`AZU AJUDUA, M.D.,
`ROLANDO JOSE MENDEZ CHUMACEIRO, M.D.,
`PETER KHAIM a/k/a PETER KHAIMOV,
`ALEKSANDR GULKAROV,
`ROMAN ISRAILOV,
`VYACHESLAV MUSHYAKOV,
`ARKADIY KHAIMOV,
`RX FOR YOU CORP.,
`SUTTER PHARMACY INC. d/b/a RX FOR YOU,
`EXCELLENT CHOICE PHARMACY CORP.,
`A&P HOLDING GROUP CORP.,
`ANTURIO MARKETING INC.,
`P&K MARKETING SERVICES INC.,
`K&L CONSULTANTS INC.,
`LL CONSULTING GROUP INC. d/b/a BILLING FOR YOU,
`KEEPERS FOR YOU CORP., AND
`ALL NETWORK MARKETING CORP.,
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`Defendants.
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`
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`PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiffs, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, and
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`Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company (collectively, “Allstate” and/or “plaintiffs”), by
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`their attorneys, Smith & Brink, P.C., allege as follows:
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`1
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`I.
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`INTRODUCTION
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`1.
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`This action involves a complex and sprawling scheme to defraud that was carried
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`out using professional corporations and pharmacies that were operated and controlled in violation
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`of New York law.
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`2.
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`The first aspect of this scheme involves several purportedly physician-owned
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`professional corporations (“PCs”), namely Defendants Hollis Novel Comprehensive Medical, P.C
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`(“Hollis”), Starrett City Medical, P.C. (“Starrett”), Hillcrest Medical Care, P.C. (“Hillcrest”), and
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`Smart Choice Medical, P.C. (“Smart Choice”) (collectively, “PC Defendants”). The PC
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`Defendants were actually operated and controlled by laypersons.
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`3.
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`As set out below, the laypersons (i.e., Defendants Peter Khaim a/k/a Peter Khaimov
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`(“Khaim”), Aleksandr Gulkarov (“Gulkarov”), and Roman Israilov (“Israilov”) (collectively,
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`“Manager Defendants”)) partnered with licensed physicians (i.e., Defendants Azu Ajudua, M.D.
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`(“Ajudua”) and Rolando Jose Mendez Chumaceiro, M.D. (“Chumaceiro”) (collectively,
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`“Physician Defendants”)) to organize and then operate the PC Defendants under the names and
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`medical licenses of the physicians.
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`4.
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`The PC Defendants were purposely organized to circumvent New York law and its
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`strong prohibition against what is known, colloquially, as the illegal corporate practice of
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`medicine.
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`5.
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`In New York, the illegal corporate practice of medicine occurs when a physician is
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`represented to the public as the sole officer, director, and shareholder of a PC, yet the PC is actually
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`owned, operated, and controlled by laypersons who are not licensed or authorized to practice
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`medicine or derive financial benefit from the delivery of professional medical services.
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`2
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`6.
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`In schemes like this, the laypersons disguise their control of the PCs through
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`various means with the goal of siphoning-off the PCs’ professional fees and profits, which are
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`generated through the delivery of medical services to patients.
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`7.
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`Layperson control over medical PCs is prohibited in New York because when
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`physicians are beholden to non-physicians, the desire to generate profits is placed ahead of patient
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`care, which creates an ethical conflict and undermines the quality of care.
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`8.
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`New York is an ideal venue for schemes like these because every automobile owner
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`is required to purchase insurance, and every insurance company is required to provide coverage of
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`up to $50,000.00 per person for reasonable, accident-related medical expenses.
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`9.
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`The Defendants’ scheme was propelled by Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov’s illegal
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`ownership and control of the PC Defendants.
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`10.
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`The Defendants used the PC Defendants as vehicles to bill for an array of tests and
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`treatments that were medically unnecessary, excessive, and clinically worthless.
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`11.
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`Khaim’s, Gulkarov’s, and Israilov’s positions of control allowed them to (a) direct
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`patient care, (b) ensure the delivery of a high frequency of tests and treatments to patients of the
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`PC Defendants, and (c) guide the referral of patients to other providers that were under their
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`ownership and control.
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`12.
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`Another aspect of this scheme involved writing prescriptions and billing for
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`unnecessary medications.
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`13.
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`Patients of the PC Defendants were prescribed a broad range of prescription and
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`non-prescription medications that were unnecessary, expensive, unwanted, unproven, and often
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`ineffective.
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`3
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`14.
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`Khaim’s, Gulkarov’s, and Israilov’s control over the PC Defendants ensured that
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`all of the prescriptions were directed to specific pharmacies under their control.
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`15.
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`For example, Khaim and Gulkarov owned or controlled a series of pharmacies,
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`namely Defendants Rx For You Corp. (“Rx for You”), Sutter Pharmacy, Inc. d/b/a Rx For You
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`(“Sutter Pharmacy”), and Excellent Choice Pharmacy Corp. (“Excellent Choice”) (collectively,
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`“Pharmacy Defendants”).
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`16.
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`The Pharmacy Defendants were superficially registered under the names of
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`Defendants Vyacheslav Mushyakov (“Mushyakov”) and Arkadiy Khaimov (“Khaimov”), but the
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`pharmacies were actually under the control of Khaim and Gulkarov.
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`17. Mushyakov and Khaimov were ideal candidates to serve as straw owners of the
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`Pharmacy Defendants because they had familial or employment relationships with the Manager
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`Defendants.
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`18.
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`As detailed with particularity below, Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov—acting in
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`their personal capacities and as the owners of a series of management, marketing, realty, funding,
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`and billing companies—conspired with Ajudua, Chumaceiro, Mushyakov, and Khaimov to
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`purposely facilitate the unlawful operation of the PC Defendants and Pharmacy Defendants.
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`19.
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`This scheme evolved over many years, as Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov purposely
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`and knowingly sought to avoid the provisions of New York law that prohibit non-physicians from
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`exerting control over a physician-owned PC, including, but not limited to, the PC’s management
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`and financial affairs.
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`20.
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`Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov used several shell companies to control the PC
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`Defendants and Pharmacy Defendants, including Defendants A&P Holding Group Corp. (“A&P
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`Holding”), Anturio Marketing Inc. (“Anturio Marketing”), P&K Marketing Services Inc. (“P&K
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`4
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`Marketing”), K&L Consultants Inc. (“K&L Consultants”), LL Consulting Group Inc. d/b/a Billing
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`For You (“Billing For You”), Keepers For You Corp. (“Keeper For You”), and All Network
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`Marketing Corp. (“All Network Marketing”) (collectively, “Shell Companies”).
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`21.
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`Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov also used the Shell Companies to conceal the fact
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`that the proceeds and profits of the PC Defendants flowed to them rather than to the Physician
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`Defendants.
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`22.
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`The success of this scheme relied on a large base of patients who were eligible to
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`claim reimbursement of their medical and pharmacy expenses under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`23.
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`Indeed, the PC Defendants’ and the Pharmacy Defendants’ patient base consisted
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`of persons (i.e., “Claimants”) who were allegedly injured in automobile accidents and therefore
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`eligible for No-Fault coverage under an insurance policy issued by Allstate.
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`24.
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`As part of this scheme, Allstate Claimants were made to enter into assignment of
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`benefit agreements with the PC Defendants and the Pharmacy Defendants, which gave these
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`providers the right to seek payments directly from Allstate—payments that were funded using the
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`Claimants’ available No-Fault insurance coverage.
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`25.
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`Following the execution of these assignment of benefit agreements, the PC
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`Defendants billed for a battery of treatments and tests, and the Pharmacy Defendants billed for
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`medications purportedly dispensed and delivered to Allstate Claimants.
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`26.
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`The PC Defendants and the Pharmacy Defendants sought and collected No-Fault
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`benefit payments directly from Allstate in every case.
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`27.
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`The Defendants carried out their scheme throught the U.S. Mail, which was used
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`repeatedly to submit the PC Defendants’ and the Pharmacy Defendants’ records, bills, and other
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`claim-related documents to Allstate.
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`5
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`28.
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`The records and bills mailed to Allstate contained warranties that the PC
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`Defendants and Pharmacy Defendants were eligible to seek and collect No-Fault benefits from
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`Allstate as assignees of the Claimants.
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`29.
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`Allstate reasonably relied on the facial validity of the records and bills mailed by
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`(or on behalf of) the PC Defendants and the Pharmacy Defendants—and the representations
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`contained therein—when making No-Fault benefit payments to the PC Defendants and the
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`Pharmacy Defendants.
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`30.
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`The No-Fault benefit claims involved in this scheme were false and fraudulent—
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`and the Defendants knew it—because the records and bills contained material misrepresentations
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`concerning the PC Defendants’ and the Pharmacy Defendants’ right to be paid under New York’s
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`No-Fault laws.
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`31.
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`The PC Defendants and Pharmacy Defendants were never eligible to seek or collect
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`No-Fault benefit payments from Allstate for the following reasons:
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`a.
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`The PC Defendants were unlawfully operated, managed and controlled by one or
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`more individuals not lawfully authorized to (i) provide medical services, (ii) own
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`or control a professional service corporation, or (iii) profit from a professional
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`service corporation organized to provide medical services;
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`b.
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`The PC Defendants were purposefully caused to split their professional fees and
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`profits with non-physicians;
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`c.
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`The PC Defendants billed Allstate for tests and treatments that were (i) not
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`medically necessary, (ii) purportedly provided pursuant to a predetermined
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`protocol, (iii) not rendered as represented (if rendered at all), (iv) intentionally
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`inflated or misrepresented to justify the continuation of medical treatment, and (v)
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`6
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`purposely designed to financially enrich the non-physicians at the expense of
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`patient care.
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`d.
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`The Pharmacy Defendants billed Allstate for medications that were (i) not
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`medically necessary, (ii) prescribed according to financial relationships between
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`the pharmacies and the prescribing providers, (iii) repeatedly dispensed in
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`excessive amounts that were harmful to patients, (iv) charged at inflated amounts
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`and not billed in accordance with the fee schedule, (v) never specifically formulated
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`for individual patients, and (vi) mass produced and dispensed in violation of
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`applicable regulatory and licensing requirements.
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`32.
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`By this Complaint, Allstate brings this action against the Defendants for: (a)
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`violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C.
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`§ 1961, et seq.; (b) common-law fraud; and (c) unjust enrichment.
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`33.
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`This action seeks actual damages of more than $864,396.00, which represent No-
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`Fault benefit payments that Allstate was wrongfully caused to make to the PC Defendants and the
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`Pharmacy Defendants during the course of this scheme.
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`34.
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`Allstate also seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that it is not legally
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`obligated to pay or reimburse the PC Defendants (or their agents) in connection with any pending
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`or unpaid No-Fault benefit claims because: (a) the PC Defendants were unlawfully owned and
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`controlled by laypersons (i.e., Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov); (b) the PC Defendants unlawfully
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`channeled their professional fees and profits to Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov through a series of
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`agreements; (c) the PC Defendants unlawfully billed for tests and treatments that were actually
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`rendered by independent contractors rather than employees of the PC Defendants; and (d) the PC
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`7
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`Defendants billed Allstate for tests and treatments that were medically unnecessary, excessive, and
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`clinically worthless, and in some cases, never actually rendered at all.
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`35.
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`Allstate also seeks a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that it is not legally
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`obligated to pay or reimburse the Pharmacy Defendants (or their agents) in connection with any
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`pending or unpaid No-Fault benefit claims because the Pharmacy Defendants, at all relevant times,
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`submitted or caused to be submitted claims for pharmacy services that were excessive, not
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`medically necessary, rendered pursuant to a pattern of treatment designed solely to ensure financial
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`enrichment and submitted in violation of one or more regulatory and licensing requirements
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`applicable to pharmacies, thus rendering the Pharmacy Defendants completely ineligible to receive
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`reimbursement under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`36.
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`All of the acts and omissions of the Defendants described throughout this
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`Complaint were undertaken intentionally.
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`37.
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`The Defendants’ fraudulent scheme was designed to elicit payment of automobile
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`insurance contract proceeds from Allstate to, or for the benefit of, the Defendants.
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`38.
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`In each claim at issue in this Complaint, an Allstate automobile insurance contract
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`was the platform upon which the Defendants sought—and in many cases obtained—payment for
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`the healthcare and pharmacy services that were not compensable under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`39.
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`The Defendants knew that the Claimants identified in this Complaint were eligible
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`for insurance coverage pursuant to automobile insurance policies issued by Allstate.
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`40.
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`Allstate estimates that the Defendants purposely submitted to Allstate hundreds of
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`bills on behalf of the PC Defendants and Pharmacy Defendants—bills that the Defendants knew
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`were not compensable under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`8
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`II.
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`THE PARTIES
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`A.
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`PLAINTIFFS
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`41.
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`Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, and
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`Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company are corporations duly organized and existing
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`under the laws of the State of Illinois, having their principal place of business in Northbrook,
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`Illinois.
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`42. At all times relevant to the allegations contained in this Complaint, Allstate
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`Insurance Company, Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, and Allstate Property &
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`Casualty Insurance Company were authorized to conduct business in New York.
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`B.
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`DEFENDANTS
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`1.
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`Manager Defendants
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`a.
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`Peter Khaim
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`43. Peter Khaim (“Khaim”) resides in and is a citizen of New York.
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`44. Khaim does not hold a medical license, and Khaim is not authorized to practice
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`medicine in the State of New York.
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`45. Khaim is also not authorized or permitted under New York law to own, control, or
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`profit from professional corporations organized to practice medicine.
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`46. Khaim is the registered owner of Sutter Pharmacy and several Shell Companies,
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`including A&P Holding, Anturio Marketing, and P&K Consulting.
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`47. As set out below, Khaim used the Shell Companies as a way to control the PC
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`Defendants and the Pharmacy Defendants.
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`48. At all relevant times, Khaim, individually and through the Shell Companies,
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`participated in the operation and management of the PC Defendants by exerting unlawful control
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`over the PC Defendants, including the PC Defendants’ professional fees and profits.
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`49. As part of this scheme, Khaim caused the PC Defendants to aggressively seek and
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`collect payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though the PC Defendants
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`were unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons.
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`50. Even if he did not personally deliver medical services to patients of the PC
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`Defendants, Khaim still participated in the operation and management of the PC Defendant
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`enterprises by, among other things, (a) controlling and conducting the PC Defendants’ affairs, (b)
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`causing the PC Defendants to seek and collect payments for non-compensable medical services,
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`and (c) siphoning-off the PC Defendants’ professional fees and profits; therefore, Khaim is
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`responsible for the fraudulent and non-compensable services that were purportedly rendered to
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`patients of the PC Defendants and billed to Allstate under New York’s No-Fault law.
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`51. Khaim also participated in the ownership and control of the Pharmacy Defendants,
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`both individually and through the Shell Companies.
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`52. As part of this scheme, Khaim caused the PC Defendants to deliver prescriptions
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`for medically unnecessary prescriptions to the Pharmacy Defendants, which the Pharmacy
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`Defendants then dispensed to Allstate Claimants.
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`53. Khaim also caused the Pharmacy Defendants to aggressively seek and collect
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`payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws for these medically unnecessary
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`prescriptions.
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`54. Even if he did not personally write prescriptions or dispense medications to Allstate
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`Claimants, Khaim still participated in the operation and management of the Pharmacy Defendant
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`10
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`enterprises by (a) owning Sutter Pharmacy, (b) acquiring the business assets of Rx For You, and
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`(c) funding and controlling Excellent Choice.
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`b.
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`Alexsandr Gulkarov
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`55. Alexsandr Gulkarov (“Gulkarov”) resides in and is a citizen of New York.
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`56. Gulkarov does not hold a medical license, and Gulkarov is not authorized to
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`practice medicine in the State of New York.
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`57. Gulkarov is also not authorized or permitted under New York law to own, control,
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`or profit from professional corporations organized to practice medicine.
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`58. Gulkarov is the owner of several Shell Companies, including Billing For You and
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`Keepers For You.
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`59. As set out below, Gulkarov participated in the operation and management of the
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`Hollis, Starrett, Hillcrest, and Smart Choice enterprises as a management-level employee of each
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`entity.
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`60. Gulkarov also used the Shell Companies owned by him (i.e., Billing For You and
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`Keepers For You) as a way to unlawfully control and profit from the Hollis, Starrett, Hillcrest, and
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`Smart Choice enterprises.
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`61. As part of this scheme, Gulkarov caused the PC Defendants to aggressively seek
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`and collect payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though the PC
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`Defendants were unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons.
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`62. Even if he did not personally deliver medical services to patients of the PC
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`Defendants, Gulkarov still participated in the operation and management of the PC Defendant
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`enterprises by, among other things, (a) controlling and conducting the PC Defendants’ affairs, (b)
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`causing the PC Defendants to seek and collect payments for non-compensable medical services,
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`11
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`and (c) siphoning-off the PC Defendants’ professional fees and profits; therefore, Gulkarov is
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`responsible for the fraudulent and non-compensable services that were purportedly rendered to
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`patients of the PC Defendants and billed to Allstate under New York’s No-Fault law.
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`c.
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`Roman Israilov
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`63. Roman Israilov (“Israilov”) resides in and is a citizen of New York.
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`64.
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`Israilov does not hold a medical license, and Israilov is not authorized to practice
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`medicine in the State of New York.
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`65.
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`Israilov is also not authorized or permitted under New York law to own, control, or
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`profit from professional corporations organized to practice medicine.
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`66. As set out below, Israilov participated in the operation and management of the
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`Hollis, Starrett, Hillcrest, and Smart Choice enterprises as a management-level employee of each
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`entity.
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`67.
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`Israilov also used one of the Shell Companies owned by him (i.e., All Network
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`Marketing) as a way to unlawfully control and profit from the Hollis, Starrett, Hillcrest, and Smart
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`Choice enterprises.
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`68. As part of this scheme, Israilov caused the PC Defendants to aggressively seek and
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`collect payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though the PC Defendants
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`were unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons.
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`69. Even if he did not personally deliver medical services to patients of the PC
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`Defendants, Israilov still participated in the operation and management of the PC Defendant
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`enterprises by, among other things, (a) controlling and conducting the PC Defendants’ affairs, (b)
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`causing the PC Defendants to seek and collect payments for non-compensable medical services,
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`and (c) siphoning-off the PC Defendants’ professional fees and profits; therefore, Israilov is
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`12
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`responsible for the fraudulent and non-compensable services that were purportedly rendered to
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`patients of the PC Defendants and billed to Allstate under New York’s No-Fault law.
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`2.
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`Physician Defendants
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`a.
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`Azu Ajudua, M.D.
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`70. Azu Ajudua, M.D. (“Ajudua”) resides in and is a citizen of New York.
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`71. Ajudua is a physician who was licensed to practice medicine in the State of New
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`York.
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`72. Ajudua surrendered his New York medical license on July 23, 2019 following a
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`conviction on felony charges relating to his participation in an unrelated healthcare fraud scheme.
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`73. Prior to his felony conviction, Ajudua was reported to be the sole officer, director,
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`and shareholder of Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest.
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`74. Ajudua participated in this scheme by providing, or purporting to provide, medical
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`services to patients of Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest, and by prescribing medications that were
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`dispensed to these patients by the Pharmacy Defendants.
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`75. Ajudua also participated in this scheme by falsely holding himself out to the public
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`and to Allstate as the sole officer, director, and shareholder of Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest, and
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`by allowing Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov to operate and control Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest
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`and profit from their operation.
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`76. Even though he did not fully control Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest, Ajudua still
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`participated in the operation of the Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest enterprises by signing—or lending
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`his name to— Hollis, Starrett, and Hillcrest’s corporate and ownership documents, as well as the
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`entities’ treatment records and invoices; therefore, Ajudua is responsible for the fraudulent and
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`non-compensable medical services that were purportedly rendered to patients of Hollis, Starrett,
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`and Hillcrest and billed to Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`77. Ajudua is also responsible for certain fraudulent and non-compensable prescription
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`medications that were dispensed to Claimants by the Pharmacy Defendants and billed to Allstate
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`under New York’s No-Fault laws.
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`b.
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`Rolando Jose Mendez Chumaceiro, M.D.
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`78. Rolando Jose Mendez Chumaceiro, M.D. (“Chumaceiro”) resides in and is a citizen
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`of the State of New York.
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`79. Chumaceiro is a physician who was licensed to practice medicine in the State of
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`New York during the relevant period.
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`80. Chumaceiro participated in this scheme by providing, or purporting to provide,
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`medical services to patients of Smart Choice, and by prescribing medications that were dispensed
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`to these patients by the Pharmacy Defendants.
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`81. Chumaceiro also participated in this scheme by falsely holding himself out to the
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`public and to Allstate as the sole officer, director, and shareholder of Smart Choice, and by
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`allowing Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov to operate and control Smart Choice and profit from its
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`operation.
`
`82. Even though he did not fully control Smart Choice, Chumaceiro still participated
`
`in the operation of the Smart Choice enterprise by signing—or lending his name to—Smart
`
`Choice’s corporate and ownership documents, as well as Smart Choice’s treatment records and
`
`invoices; therefore, Chumaceiro is responsible for the fraudulent and non-compensable medical
`
`services that were purportedly rendered to patients of Smart Choice and billed to Allstate under
`
`New York’s No-Fault laws.
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 15 of 249 PageID #: 15
`
`
`
`83. Chumaceiro is also responsible for certain fraudulent and non-compensable
`
`prescription medications that were dispensed to Claimants by the Pharmacy Defendants and billed
`
`to Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws.
`
`3.
`
`PC Defendants
`
`a.
`
`Hollis Novel Comprehensive Medical, P.C.
`
`84. Hollis Novel Comprehensive Medical, P.C. (“Hollis”) is organized as a physician-
`
`owned professional corporation under New York law with a principal place of business located at
`
`205-07 Hillside Avenue, Hollis, New York.
`
`85. At all relevant times, Ajudua falsely purported to be the sole officer, director, and
`
`shareholder of Hollis.
`
`86. As set out below, Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov participated in the operation and
`
`management of the Hollis enterprise by exerting unlawful control over Ajudua and Hollis,
`
`including Hollis’s professional fees and profits.
`
`87. As part of this scheme, Hollis was caused to aggressively seek and collect payments
`
`from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though Hollis was unlawfully operated and
`
`controlled by laypersons.
`
`88. Because Hollis was unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons, and thus
`
`operated in direct violation of N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 1508, Hollis was therefore never lawfully
`
`entitled to seek or collect No-Fault benefit payments pursuant to N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102.
`
`b.
`
`Starrett City Medical, P.C.
`
`89. Starrett City Medical, P.C. (“Starrett”) is organized as a physician-owned
`
`professional corporation under New York law with a principal place of business located at 105-10
`
`Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
`
`
`
`15
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 16 of 249 PageID #: 16
`
`
`
`90. At all relevant times, Ajudua falsely purported to be the sole officer, director, and
`
`shareholder of Starrett.
`
`91. As set out below, Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov participated in the operation and
`
`management of the Starrett enterprise by exerting unlawful control over Ajudua and Starrett,
`
`including Starrett’s professional fees and profits.
`
`92. As part of this scheme, Starrett was caused to aggressively seek and collect
`
`payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though Starrett was unlawfully
`
`operated and controlled by laypersons.
`
`93. Because Starrett was unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons, and thus
`
`operated in direct violation of N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 1508, Starrett was therefore never lawfully
`
`entitled to seek or collect No-Fault benefit payments pursuant to N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102.
`
`c.
`
`Hillcrest Medical Care, P.C.
`
`94. Hillcrest Medical Care, P.C. (“Hillcrest”) is organized as a physician-owned
`
`professional corporation under New York law with a principal place of business located at 204-12
`
`Hillside Avenue, Hollis, New York.
`
`95. At all relevant times, Ajudua falsely purported to be the sole officer, director, and
`
`shareholder of Hillcrest.
`
`96. As set out below, Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov participated in the operation and
`
`management of the Hillcrest enterprise by exerting unlawful control over Ajudua and Hillcrest,
`
`including Hillcrest’s professional fees and profits.
`
`97. As part of this scheme, Hillcrest was caused to aggressively seek and collect
`
`payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though Hillcrest was unlawfully
`
`operated and controlled by laypersons.
`
`
`
`16
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 17 of 249 PageID #: 17
`
`
`
`98. Because Hillcrest was unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons, and thus
`
`operated in direct violation of N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 1508, Hillcrest was therefore never lawfully
`
`entitled to seek or collect No-Fault benefit payments pursuant to N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102.
`
`d.
`
`Smart Choice Medical, P.C.
`
`99. Smart Choice Medical, P.C. (“Smart Choice”) is organized as a physician-owned
`
`professional corporation under New York law with principal places of business located at 409
`
`Rockaway Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York and 1767 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York.
`
`100. At all relevant times, Chumaceiro falsely purported to be the sole officer, director,
`
`and shareholder of Smart Choice.
`
`101. As set out below, Khaim, Gulkarov, and Israilov participated in the operation and
`
`management of the Smart Choice enterprise by exerting unlawful control over Chumaceiro and
`
`Smart Choice, including Smart Choice’s professional fees and profits.
`
`102. As part of this scheme, Smart Choice was caused to aggressively seek and collect
`
`payments from Allstate under New York’s No-Fault laws even though Smart Choice was
`
`unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons.
`
`103. Because Smart Choice was unlawfully operated and controlled by laypersons, and
`
`thus operated in direct violation of N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 1508, Smart Choice was therefore never
`
`lawfully entitled to seek or collect No-Fault benefit payments pursuant to N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102.
`
`4.
`
`Pharmacy Defendants
`
`a.
`
`Rx For You Corp.
`
`104. Rx For You Corp. (“Rx For You”) is a domestic business corporation organized
`
`under the laws of the State of New York.
`
`
`
`17
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 18 of 249 PageID #: 18
`
`
`
`105. Rx For You maintains its principal place of business at 1767 Southern Blvd., Bronx,
`
`New York.
`
`106. Mushyakov was the purported owner of Rx For You.
`
`107. Mushyakov maintained close ties to one or more of the Manager Defendants during
`
`the course of this scheme.
`
`108. In furtherance of this scheme, Mushyakov was caused to sell Rx For You’s business
`
`to Khaim.
`
`109. As part of this scheme, Claimants were made to enter into assignment of benefit
`
`agreements with Rx For You, which gave Rx For You the right to seek payments directly from
`
`Allstate—payments that were funded using the Claimants’ available No-Fault insurance coverage.
`
`110. Following the execution of these assignment of benefit agreements, Rx For You
`
`purportedly dispensed medications to Claimants.
`
`111. Rx For You then sought and collected No-Fault benefit payments from Allstate.
`
`112. As alleged herein, because of the Defendants’ unlawful conduct, Rx For You was
`
`never lawfully eligible to receive such payments from Allstate.
`
`b.
`
`Sutter Pharmacy Inc. d/b/a Rx For You
`
`113. Sutter Pharmacy Inc. d/b/a Rx For You (“Sutter Pharmacy”) is a domestic business
`
`corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York.
`
`114. Sutter Pharmacy maintains its principal place of business at 1767 Southern Blvd,
`
`Bronx, New York.
`
`115. Sutter Pharmacy was the successor pharmacy to Rx For You.
`
`
`
`18
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-06108-ENV-RER Document 1 Filed 12/16/20 Page 19 of 249 PageID #: 19
`
`
`
`116. After consummating a business transfer sale between Rx For You and Sutter
`
`Pharmacy, Khaim sought and obtained permission to operate Sutter Pharmacy under the assumed
`
`name “Rx For You.”
`
`117. At all relevant times, Khaim directed the operation and management of Sutter
`
`Pharmacy.
`
`118. As part of this scheme, Claimants were made to enter into assignment of benefit
`
`agreements with Sutter Pharmacy, which gave Sutter Pharmacy the right to seek payments directly
`
`from Allstate—payments that were funded using the Claimants’ available No-Fault insurance
`
`coverage.
`
`119. Following the execution of these assignment of benefit agreements, Sutter
`
`Pharmacy purportedly dispensed and/or delivered medicati

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