Vascular imaging at heart of $71M fraud scheme—DOJ announces prison sentences

Two New York residents have been sentenced to prison for their role in a years-long kickback scheme that resulted in $70.6 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.

From at least June 2013 to at least September 2020, a mobile medical diagnostics company and several other stakeholders conspired to order medically unnecessary transcranial doppler (TCD) scans. TCD scans are typically used to screen patients for stroke or monitor other vascular concerns. In this case, however, doctors were given kickbacks—some in cash, some by check—to order the scans for no reason at all. In some instances, sham rental and administrative service agreements were created to make it appear on paper as if the doctors were being paid for legitimate reasons. 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, (DOJ), Medicare ultimately paid $27.2 million to the TCD provider for these claims. 

Participants in years-long fraud scheme get prison time, heavy fines

Timothy Doyle, 45, a former operations manager, was sentenced to 14 months in prison as well as one year of supervised release. He was ordered to pay approximately $27.2 million in restitution and forfeit approximately $1.1 million. 

In January 2025, Doyle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. He faced a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Read the full DOJ statement about Doyle’s arrest here.