Former Illinois Psychiatric Hospital Executive Sentenced for Role in Kickback Conspiracy

The former operations chief of a psychiatric hospital in Lemont, Ill. received a 15-month prison sentence for his role in a Medicaid kickback scheme, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

Mahmood Baig, the former director of operations at Rock Creek Center, a psychiatric hospital that has since been shuttered, expressed regret at his sentencing, the Tribune reported. The scheme allegedly involved using kickbacks and bribes to induce referrals and bring patients to Rock Creek.

Under federal guidelines, Mr. Mahmood could have been sentenced to more than 30 months in prison, but U.S. District Judge William Hibbler reduced the sentence because Mr. Mahmood cooperated with federal investigators, according to the Tribune.

Read the Chicago Tribune's report on the Medicaid kickbacks.

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