Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just issued an executive order late last week, re-assigning an investigation into a Jacksonville dentist who is connected to the “Tooth Fairy Heist” arrests in Miami late last year, indicating that the investigation is far from over.
The governor’s executive orders says it is handing over to Brian Kramer, State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, “…A request for a criminal investigation into Howard Fetner for allegations of false and fraudulent insurance claims, schemes to defraud, criminal use of personal identification information, and grand theft.”
According to an attorney letter sent to SA Brian Kramer by William Spicola, who represents three dentists that were terminated by Dr. Howard Fetner, “the Department of Financial Services report alleges a $2,274,371.49. fraud involving Dr. Fetner and others and summarizes the recommended charges against the Dr. Fetner.”
The Spicola attorney letter also said, “These three licensed Florida dentists were terminated by Jacksonville dentist, Dr. Fetner, in December 2022 even though Dr. Fetner had never set foot in their South Florida office. Our clients believe their termination was the penalty for reporting that their billing codes were being improperly used by their former employer, ACPDO Management, Inc. without their consent.”
The letter concluded by adding, “Howard Fetner Violated FSS 812.014 and committed Grand Theft. Dr. Fetner allowed medical billing claims to be presented, submitted, and paid under doctor Cabrerizo, Tejeda, Sanchez, Puig, Delgado, Velez, and Roman’s NPIs with the intent to deprive the insurer.”
A previous attorney letter from Spicola was sent to Jacksonville-area State Attorney Melissa Nelson, which triggered her recusal and request for the Governor to re-assign the case.
