FBI Says Chesterfield Chiropractor Guilty of Massive Billing Fraud

A Chesterfield resident and chiropractor with a 30-year practice was indicted Wednesday by a Federal grand jury on felonies that included billing for health care that didn't happen, and falsifying thousands of documents for reimbursement from insurance.

Anthony William Calandro, 55, could face a maximum of up to 30 years in prison and $3.75 million in fines that include his chiropractic business—if found guilty.

Calandro's billing assistant Sherry Rueter, 62, was indicted on identical charges.

Using false codes, the pair submitted thousands of false claims for missed appointments. 

The practice is located at 9109 Watson Road in Crestwood, Chiropractic Accident Centre. 

Law enforcement said the business allegedly billed insurance companies for X-rays never taken, and for appointments patients had canceled or missed.              

Two undercover investigations revealed that Calandro and Rueter billed multiple insurance companies in 2010 and 2011 for services that were never rendered, according to the indictment.

In addition, the pair submitted numerous reimbursement claims from 2006 to 2011, that falsely stated the number of X-rays the Chiropractic Centre had taken. In most instances, only one or two X-rays were taken during a patient’s visit, but many more alleged X-rays were billed. 

The indictment also says that since insurance companies would not reimburse for a patient's missed appointment, they falsely indicated that a billable service had been provided to patients.        

Calandro, Rueter and Chiropractic Accident Centre of Crestwood, P.C. were each indicted by a federal grand jury on:

• one felony count of health care fraud
• four felony counts of making false statements related to health care services.        

If convicted:

• each count of health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; 
• each count of making false statements carries a maximum of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.  
• The corporation faces maximum fines up to $500,000 per count of the indictment. 

Additionally, upon a finding of guilt, the defendants will be subject to forfeiture to the government of all money derived from their illegal activity.  

Online resume websites indicate Calandro went to Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield.       

Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.