A New Jersey man who operates several optometry offices in two states has pleaded guilty in federal court to health care fraud.
31-year-old Dr. Vincent J. Gamuzza of Hazelet, New Jersey, entered his guilty plea yesterday before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. He operates multiple optometry offices in the Western Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas, including the Indiana branch of Pearle Vision Centers. In connection with the guilty plea, he admitted to submitting false health insurance claims to Highmark between December of 2015 and July of 2016 for services that were never provided to patients. He also said that he illegally submitted claims for the same services to both Highmark and Davis Vision.
Gamuzza’s sentencing was scheduled for January 23rd. He faces a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.
