Andrew Kassman, DMD, an orthodontist in Tucson, Ariz., and his wife were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Dr. Kassman was formerly the owner of an orthodontics practice, and he continued as an employee after selling the practice. He and his wife, Laurie Ann Kassman, are accused of engaging in an embezzlement scheme to divert funds that belonged to the practice without the new owner's consent or knowledge, according to a March 5 news release from the Justice Department.
After selling the practice, Dr. Kassman stayed at the practice as an orthodontist and Ms. Kassman remained as the office manager. Dr. Kassman kept his business bank account open, allegedly embezzling at least $73,000.
Ms. Kassman manipulated the practice's financial records in the record keeping system to conceal the scheme.
A conviction on either charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt, the release said.