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Doctor convicted of 162 counts of fraud

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A federal jury has convicted a north Florida doctor of 162 counts of health care fraud.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Canova said in a news release that 59-year-old Dr. Ona Colasante defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida through false billing schemes at two different businesses. Colasante was convicted Monday.

Canova says Colasante could be sentenced to 10 years on each of the 162 counts. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25.

Prosecutors say Colasante owned and operated the Hawthorne Medical Center from 1998 to 2009, and the Colasante Clinic in Gainesville from 2010 to 2013.

Prosecutors say Colasante billed insurance companies for counseling, treatment and training that never occurred and fraudulently billed for drugs.

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