Rich is Of Counsel to our health and criminal law practice groups in the Albany office. In addition to focusing on Medicare, Medicaid and False Claims prosecutions and investigations, and corporate compliance, Rich works with the firm’s white collar criminal defense attorneys where he represents individuals and entities in every stage of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions.
Prior to joining our firm, Rich was a prosecutor in the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for twenty-seven years. He served as the Regional Director for the New York City Region for ten years beginning in 1998, overseeing a staff of one hundred lawyers, investigators and auditors. In August 2008, Rich became the Regional Director in the Albany Office of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Since 1984, he has investigated and prosecuted hundreds of Medicaid fraud cases and nursing home patient abuse cases.
Rich received the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Special Achievement Award in 1989 for his efforts in prosecuting the largest theft by a single Medicaid provider in United States history, which included convictions for arson, tax fraud and perjury. In 2001, he was awarded the Louis J. Lefkowitz Award for his prosecution of the owner of an Adult Day Care Center for a larceny which, once again, was the largest fraud by a single provider in the United States. Between 2005 and 2008, Rich conducted a comprehensive investigation of the Home Care industry, known as “Operation Home Alone,” which resulted in over 100 criminal convictions, millions of dollars in restitution, and systematic changes in the Home Care industry. He received the Attorney General’s Special Achievement Award for his efforts.
Between August 1992 and September 1993, Rich was appointed as Special Assistant to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York to assist on Medicaid fraud investigations. He has lectured at Health Care Fraud training seminars conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the F.B.I. He has been a frequent lecturer at the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
Between 1978 and 1984, Rich worked as a senior trial counsel for the New York State Grievance Committee, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. In this role, he investigated and prosecuted attorney misconduct in cases ranging from conversion of clients’ funds, “black market” adoptions and ambulance chasing.
Rich was formerly an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, teaching criminal law and evidence from 1999 to 2004. He also taught at the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Cardozo School of Law.
Professional & Civic Leadership
Awards
• Louis J. Lefkowitz Award
New York State Attorney General's Office
2001
• Special Achievement Award
New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
1989
Results
Representative Cases
• “Operation Home Alone”
Practice Area: Healthcare Fraud
Outcome: $40 million in restitution
Description:
Prior to joining O’Connell and Aronowitz, Rich was lead prosecutor for then Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s top-to-bottom investigation of the homecare industry. His work resulted in over 100 criminal convictions of home health aides, licensed health care agencies, schools, nurses, and $40 million in restitution. Recoveries for New York State are among the largest in U.S. history.
