Darin Cox Allegedly Ran Taxi Business Without Required Licenses; Illegally Obtained Over $80K From Medicaid
Schneiderman: My Office Will Keep Working To Hold Fraudulent Business Owners Accountable
BINGHAMTON – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and arraignment of Darin Cox, owner and operator of Broome Taxi, a transportation company in Broome County, for his allegedly fraudulent actions in obtaining over $50,000.00 from the Medicaid system by operating his business without the licensing necessary to operate a taxicab in Broome County.
“When Medicaid is defrauded by greedy business owners, hardworking New Yorkers who rely on the program pay the price,” Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said. “My office will keep working to hold unscrupulous business owners accountable.”
The defendant received payments from the Medicaid Program for transporting Medicaid beneficiaries to medical appointments. During the period March 18, 2105, to January 29, 2016, the defendant is alleged to have knowingly operated his business in violation of Broome County transportation regulations by failing to possess a Broome County-issued taxicab license; a Broome County-issued taxi business license; and a valid New York State class E driver’s license. The defendant’s class E driver’s license was suspended on March 30, 2015.
According to the felony complaint, in addition to his failure to maintain the required licenses, in 2014 and 2015 the defendant submitted forms which falsely certified that his business had all the licensing required to operate a taxicab in Broome County.
During the time that his company was unlawfully operated, the defendant obtained over $80,000.00 in Medicaid payments.
The defendant, 43, of 3145 Stewart Road, No. 4, in Vestal, New York, is charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, in violation of Penal Law § 155.40(1), which is a class C felony, and with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, in violation of Penal Law § 175.35(1), which is a class E felony.
The defendant was arraigned by the Hon. Carol A. Cocchiola of Binghamton City Court. The case was remanded without bail.
The Attorney General thanks the Broome County Government Security Division for its assistance in this investigation.
The charges against the defendant are accusations; he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was conducted by Special Investigator Keith Hall. The Deputy Chief Investigator is William Falk, and the Senior Auditor/Investigator is Dejan Budimir. The Regional Chief Auditor is Thomas Goodman. The matter is being presented in court by Syracuse Regional Director Ralph D. Tortora, III. Catherine Wagner is Chief of Criminal Investigations-Upstate. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.