TRENTON >> Authorities say a man who works in an ophthalmologist’S office submitted fraudulent health insurance claims in the doctor’s name and then stole some of the insurance checks when they arrived in the office.
A state grand jury indicted Austin Mongiello on charges of health care claims fraud, forgery and two counts of theft.
The 27-year-old Manalapan man could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. It wasn’t known Wednesday if he’s retained an attorney.
Mongiello worked for an ophthalmologist in Belleville. Between September 2012 and March 2013, he allegedly submitted $4,155 in fraudulent health insurance claims to an insurer.
The insurer eventually issued checks amounting to $1,456, but authorities say Mongiello took checks worth $842. He also allegedly stole $687 in checks from another insurer.
