A Tucson orthodontist and his wife have been indicted on suspicion of wire fraud at the office where they both worked, authorities say.
Dr. Andrew L. Kassman and his wife, Laurie Ann Kassman, were indicted by a federal grand jury last week on seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal officials say they diverted at least $73,000 from an orthodontic practice he previously owned, said a U.S. Attorneyβs Office news release.
A new owner purchased the practice on Aug. 1, 2019. Andrew Kassman continued to work there as a salaried orthodontist. Laurie Kassman kept her job as the office manager.
Kassman and the new owner entered into an agreement that all fees received or collected for his services would belong to the new owner. Kassman, however, kept his former business account open and would later use it to facilitate his scheme, according to the indictment.
Laurie Kassman, who was in charge of patient accounts and payments, used her knowledge of the systems to help conceal the coupleβs embezzlement scheme by manipulating patient financial records, the indictment says.
She is accused of, on at least one occasion, concealing that a $4,497 cash payment had been made by failing to document the transaction. The funds were allegedly never deposited into the new practiceβs account.
Even after Laurie Kassman was fired on Oct. 25, 2021, she continued her ruse to defraud, the indictment says.
βDr. Kassman has been a well-respected member of the medical healthcare community as an orthodontist here in Arizona for many decades. He is innocent of any wrongdoing here,β said Joshua Hamilton, his attorney. βThe governmentβs allegations against him are false, and we will fight these bogus charges tooth and nail in the courtroom. Rest assured, he will be vindicated in the end.β
A conviction for either charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the news release said.
A hearing in the case is set for March 15, in U.S. District court here.
