Reisterstown Man Charged with Felony Theft and Fraud

BALTIMORE, MD (June 8, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Asher Elkayam was indicted by a Baltimore County Circuit Court grand jury with charges of felony theft and insurance fraud. The indictment alleges that between July, 2004 and July, 2006, Mr. Elkayam submitted numerous false claims to insurance companies requesting reimbursement for hearing aids that he never actually acquired nor distributed to a patient. The total amount of overbilling is in excess of $31,000.

Felony theft is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years incarceration and a $25,000 fine. Felony insurance fraud is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years incarceration and a $10,000 fine. No trial date has been set.

The indictment follows a joint investigation by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General. A criminal charge is merely an accusation of wrongdoing and the defendant is presumed innocent unless the State proves him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.