Fresno podiatrist indicted for health care fraud

A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment Thursday against Franklyn Collier Jones, 52, of Fresno, charging him with health care fraud and making false statements relating to health care.

According to court documents, Jones practiced podiatry in Fresno. Between 2010 and 2015, Jones allegedly billed Medicare for surgical procedures called avulsions and matrixectomies that he did not perform. He allegedly performed only routine foot care on the patients, such as clipping toe nails, but billed more than $141,000 for these surgical procedures during this time.

If convicted, Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of health care fraud; and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of making a false statement.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 8:20 PM with the headline "Fresno podiatrist indicted for health care fraud."