ABERDEEN – Robert S. Corkern is the latest defendant to face federal charges alleging a multi-million-dollar health care fraud in north Mississippi.
Tuesday, Corkern pleaded not guilty to four counts and remains free on $40,000 bond.
http://liarcatchers.com/insurance_fraud.html
The indictment against him wasn’t publicly posted, but new details on the U.S. District Court of Northern Mississippi website show he is accused of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., three counts of loan and credit application fraud, and one count of bribery involving federal programs.
Corkern will face trial Dec. 12 with co-defendants Raymond L. Shoemaker, a Tupelo health care executive, and Earnest Levi “Lee” Garner Jr., a Batesville businessman.
Shoemaker and Garner, who declined to appear in federal court Tuesday, face no additional charges in the new indictment.
They each pleaded not guilty several months ago and are free on bond.
They are accused in a scheme allegedly committed while Shoemaker was chief executive officer of Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville. He also is accused of embezzlement from Humphreys County Hospital while he was administrator.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not respond to Daily Journal calls about who Corkern is or how he is allegedly involved with the accusations.
An Internet search for Robert Corkern shows that last March, a Dr. Robert S. Corkern surrendered his license to prescribe narcotics and controlled substances, the Batesville newspaper reported.
The newspaper also reported that Corkern’s Batesville office was searched by local law enforcement and the Mississippi State Medical Licensure Board.
Corkern, a family practice and emergency medicine physician, apparently was under investigation for more than a year on allegations he misused prescription drugs.
At that time, he said patients were selling his prescriptions, chiefly for Methadone, without his knowledge.
He was not arrested or charged with any crime, at that time, and continued practicing medicine.
Methadone is used for treatment of opioid dependence and for pain relief.
