Trio indicted on prescription drug and insurance fraud offenses

Newark Post • January 22, 2011

Following a 9-month investigation by the Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Justice, and Insurance Commissioner’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and Delaware State Police announced that criminal indictments were secured this week against Dr. Thomas Celello, Willie Moses, and Krzysztof Popczyk in connection with writing improper narcotic drug prescriptions and insurance fraud at Delaware Integrative Health Care (DIH), a pain management clinic located at 2123 W. Newport Pike. 

Celello, age 63, of Brandywine Hundred, was indicted on seven felony counts of Conspiracy Second Degree for prescribing the prescription painkillers Oxycodone and Alprazolam to undercover police officers on seven separate occasions between July and August, 2010.  On each occasion, the officers visited DIH, where Celello was employed, as walk-in patients seeking prescription drugs without any symptoms, injuries, or other medical needs for the medication.  

“We will not tolerate drug abusers or doctors exploiting the system for financial gain or to facilitate drug trafficking activity,” Attorney General Biden stated.  “Illegal prescription drug abuse is our fastest-growing drug problem and it’s a threat to public safety.” 

Moses, age 51, of Aldin, PA, and Popczyk, age 33, of Hockessin, were indicted on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and other charges in four schemes that allegedly took place between August, 2009 and September, 2010.  In each, the defendants are charged with submitting bills for alleged motor vehicle accidents that never occurred in which the alleged victims received treatment at DIH for services that were never provided.  Moses and Popczyk are each charged with four offenses related to each scheme: Insurance Fraud for submitting bills to Budget Truck Rental, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and American Independence Insurance Company; Forgery for forging and/or transferring underlying documents; Theft for receiving payments or Attempted Theft when payments were sought but not provided; and Conspiracy for acting to promulgate the crimes.  In a fifth scheme, Popczyk was charged with Insurance Fraud, Falsifying Business Records, and Theft for reporting a stolen vehicle to Geico Insurance Company and filing a claim, when a subsequent investigation revealed that report to be false.  In addition, Moses was indicted on two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. 

“Defrauding insurance companies for personal profit is a serious offense that costs us all,” Biden stated. 

Celello was arrested by Delaware State Police on January 19, 2011 and arraigned, where he was released on $7,000 unsecured bond.  Celello’s controlled substance registration was suspended on September 28, 2010 by the Secretary of State, the same day that the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline granted the Attorney General’s motion to suspend his license to practice medicine.

Moses was arrested by Delaware State Police following a September 9 raid on DIH and charged with firearm and insurance fraud charges.  He was ultimately released on $73,000 secured bail.  A warrant has been issued for Popczyk’s arrest.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the state bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.