MACCLENNY, Fla. -- A local doctor has been arrested for running an organized fraud scheme worth tens of thousands of dollars. Dr. Charles Scarborough, 76, from Macclenny was arrested for one count of organized scheme to defraud over $50,000. That is a first-degree felony. He is also charged with 821 counts of false or fraudulent insurance claims, a third-degree felony.
The investigation began in 2011, when investigators realized Scarborough was prescribing a significant number of controlled substances throughout northeast Florida. Authorities say Scarborough was overprescribing medication to patients and allowed unlicensed and untrained staff members to practice medicine. These employees were told to inflate medical billing to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers for care the patient didn't receive.
“This is a prime example of law enforcement teaming together to remove a major violator from our community,” said Dominick Pape, Special Agent in Charge of FDLE’s Jacksonville Region. “This level of fraud has to be attacked by a team effort to be successful.”
During the the investigation, authorities teamed up with the Florida Department of Health to obtain an Emergency Suspension Order for Scarborough’s medical license. Scarborough was booked into the Clay County Jail.
