Tulare County District Attorney files charges against health care executives
Three health care executives have been charged by the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office with 40 felonies and six misdemeanors including embezzlement, misappropriation of government funds, conflicts of interest and money laundering.
District Attorney Tim Ward said Tuesday that the criminal complaint targets Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) executives: CEO Dr. Yorai “Benny” Benzeevi of Visalia, CFO Alan Germany of Arizona, and Tulare Regional Medical Center and HCCA counsel Bruce Greene of Los Angeles.
Ward said the complaint is the result of a three-year investigation that covered eight California counties and six states with ties to HCCA, the company that formerly ran the Tulare Regional Medical Center.
In the complaint, Ward alleges the executives “used control of public hospital entities to enrich themselves through the improper use of taxpayer and private loans, and other public integrity crimes.”
Ward said the DA’s office is in the process of contacting attorneys for the defendants to arrange for their arrests.
Benzeevi may be difficult to find. The complaint shows that he left the country March, 1, 2019 and has not returned.
If convicted on all charges, Benzeevi faces more than 40 years in prison. Greene and Germany each could spend more than a decade in prison.
“We are grateful for the support and patience of the community, as well as the Tulare County Board of Supervisors during this unprecedented investigation. The Board’s commitment ensured that we were able to utilize our resources fully,” Ward said.
Part of the Tulare County DA’s investigation is also looking into alleged crimes at the Southern Inyo Health Care District in Inyo County. Those crimes will be prosecuted in Tulare County with the consent of the Inyo County District Attorney.
