Three New York attorneys were among 36 people charged on Feb. 29 in a massive scheme to defraud insurers of more than $279 million through abuse of the state’s no-fault auto insurance law. Southern District U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced a racketeering indictment that swept up eight members and associates of a criminal group he called the “No-Fault Organization.” The group owned and controlled fraudulent medical clinics where patients, recruited by “runners,” received therapies, tests and medical equipment they did not need. Also charged were 10 doctors who Mr. Bharara said “essentially peddle their medical licenses like a corner fraudster might sell fakes IDs.” The 36 suspects were arrested as part of a joint investigation with the FBI and the New York Police Department that included officers posing as patients at the phony clinics.
The attorneys are Matthew J. Conroy, 42, of Melville, a partner at the four-lawyer Matthew J. Conroy & Associates in Garden City; Maria Diglio, 47, of Garden City, an associate at the Conroy firm; and Sol Naimark, 53, of Flushing, a partner at Naimark & Tannenbaum in Bayside. Mr. Conroy, charged in the indictment with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, is accused of being part of the No-Fault Organization, serving as a consultant and advisor on the criminal activity of alleged ringleaders Mikhail Zemlyansky, 35, of Hewlett, Michael Danilovich, 38, of Brooklyn, and Yuriy Zayonts, 40, and Mikhail Kremerman, 41, both of Staten Island. The indictment also states that Mr. Conroy participated in laundering the organization’s proceeds. Ms. Diglio and Mr. Naimark were charged in the health fraud and mail fraud conspiracies.