N.Y. Orthopedist Sentenced to 8 Years in LIRR Fraud Case

An orthopedist has been sentenced to eight years in prison for scheming to help New York’s Long Island Rail Road employees receive disability payments by exaggerating or making up ailments.

Dr. Peter Lesniewski was sentenced on Feb. 21 in Manhattan federal court for his role in the LIRR disability fraud scheme.

Prosecutors said Lesniewski diagnosed fake ailments for LIRR employees so they could receive disability benefits they weren’t entitled to.

They said Lesniewski got about $1,000 for each patient he assisted. They said he also received hundreds of thousands of dollars in health insurance payments for unnecessary medical treatments.

In addition to his prison sentence, the 63-year-old Rockville Centre, N.Y., resident was ordered to pay $70.6 million in restitution and forfeit $70.9 million in assets.

Lesniewski did not speak at his sentencing.

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