VB doctor senteneced to 63 months

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A Virginia Beach doctor was sentenced Monday to 63 months in prison for health care fraud and altering records to obstruct an investigation, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

Ronald Poulin, 61, an oncologist and hematologist with a practice, was found guilty of the charges in November, in a trial that lasted two weeks. Poulin was also ordered to pay $790,641.87 in restitution.

Evidence of the trial showed that between January 2006 and August 2008, Poulin filed hundreds of false and fraudulent claims, totaling about $1.3 million. He billed a greater amount of chemotherapy drugs than patients received, and altered records to influence the investigation.

"The federal government spends billions on health care, and it's our responsibility to root out those who corrupt the system and steal from the taxpayers," said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. "Ronald Poulin lied to get more money for his services than he deserved, and now he is going to spend 63 months in prison as a result of that greed."