Operation Ghost Ride: A.G. Schneiderman Announces Guilty Pleas And Convictions Of Owners Of Albany Transportation Companies For Stealing Thousands In Medicaid Transit Scam

Percy Sanville, Jr., And Rafael Gonzalez, Owners Of All Star Transportation Group, A&N Transportation, And Ammediate Transport Submitted Bogus Medicaid Claims For Transportation Services

Transportation Operators Stole Over $50,000 From Medicaid And Will Now Serve Time In Prison

Schneiderman: Ghost Rides Can Lead To Horrifying Costs For Taxpayers, Undermine Vital Services For Our Most Vulnerable

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced the guilty pleas and grand larceny convictions of Percy Sanville, Jr., 42, and Rafael Gonzalez, 38, owners of All Star Transportation Group, A&N Transportation, and Ammediate Transport. An undercover investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, referred to as “Operation Ghost Ride,” revealed that Sanville and Gonzalez stole over $50,000 from Medicaid by submitting fraudulent claims for transportation services that were never provided.

“These operators carried out an elaborate hoax to defraud Medicaid and exploit New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Ghost rides can result in horrifying costs being passed along to taxpayers, while undermining the vital services on which our most vulnerable depend. My office will not tolerate this ghastly behavior and will continue to bring scammers to justice.”

Operation Ghost Ride resulted in an indictment charging Sanville and Gonzalez with multiple counts of grand larceny and possession of stolen property. The indictment alleged that Sanville and Gonzalez, with the assistance of others, caused false Medicaid claims to be submitted and funds to be paid to “A&N Transportation” and “Ammediate Transport” for transporting Medicaid recipients, including Sanville, to medical appointments. These appointments and rides were fictitious and Medicaid paid over $50,000 for the “ghost” trips.

Today, Sanville pled guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, in Albany County Supreme Court before the Honorable Roger D. McDonough. Sanville admitted that he submitted false claims to Medicaid for transportation for himself to physical therapy appointments between September 7, 2016 and November 30, 2016 that never occurred. Under the terms of Sanville’s plea agreement, he will serve a sentence of two to six years in prison. Following Sanville’s guilty plea, he was remanded to the custody of the Albany County Sheriff. Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2017.

Additionally, Gonzalez pled guilty today to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, before Judge McDonough. Gonzalez admitted that he set up transportation for a Medicaid recipient to physical therapy appointments between October 3, 2016 and January 11, 2017 that were billed to Medicaid but never occurred. Under the terms of Gonzalez’s plea agreement, he will serve a sentence of two to four years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2018.

Ammediate Transport and A&N Transportation were located at 2038 Central Avenue in the Colonie, NY. Sanville is the sole owner of A&N Transportation, while Gonzalez and Sanville both own Ammediate Transport.

The case was investigated by Albany Regional Office MFCU Investigators John R. Benshoff, Joseph Farrell, and Michael Connelly, with the assistance of Supervising Investigator Dianne Hart and Upstate Deputy Chief Investigator William Falk, and by Auditor Investigator Nathaniel J. Wood with the assistance of Regional Chief Auditor Charles Norfleet.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Paul A. Clyne with the assistance of Albany Regional Director Kathleen A. Boland. Catherine Wagner is MFCU's Upstate Chief of Criminal Investigations. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney.