LOS ANGELES (AP) — The founder of a Los Angeles sober-living facility is facing 20 years in prison for running a $175 million phony health care billing scheme.
Christopher Bathum pleaded no contest Monday to 14 felony counts of grand theft, insurance fraud, identity theft and money laundering, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced.
Bathum, who once described himself as "the rehab mogul," ran 13 Community Recovery drug and alcohol treatment centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties and six in Colorado.
He used patient information to obtain health insurance policies in their names without their knowledge, then billed insurance companies for services that were never provided, including services for former clients after their treatment ended, prosecutors said.
He a
