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Feds seek 15-year sentence in fraud scheme

Posted On: Dec. 10, 2021 11:31 AM CST

fraud

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Sam Solakyan to more than 15 years in prison for perpetrating what they characterize in court papers as the largest workers compensation fraud scheme in the history of Southern California.

Attorneys for Mr. Solakyan argued in court filings that a sentence of no more than six months would be appropriate, based on federal sentencing guidelines.

A federal jury in July convicted Mr. Solakyan on all 12 counts in a 2018 indictment — one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud and health care fraud, and 11 counts of honest services mail fraud — alleging a scheme to submit more than $250 million in bills for services procured through bribes and kickbacks.

Mr. Solakyan, who was president and CEO of Vital Imaging Inc. in Glendale, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday. Federal prosecutors, in a sentencing position filed Dec. 6, asked the U.S. District Court for Southern California to sentence him to 188 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and to impose a $5 million fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office also asked the court to schedule a separate restitution hearing in February.

The base offense level for the conspiracy and fraud charges and for a person with no prior convictions, such as Mr. Solakyan, points to a term of incarceration of up to six months under federal sentencing guidelines. However, prosecutors are seeking enhancements based on the total losses resulting from the scheme, the number of victims and other factors.

The largest enhancement results from allegations that the kickback scheme caused losses of more than $3.5 million.

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