An Alabama-based doctor, Tommie Robinson, was sentenced on March 20 in federal court in Boston to 16 months in prison for his role in a $2.7 million telemedicine health care fraud scheme.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about fraudulent practices involving durable medical equipment and genetic testing ordered through telemedicine services. Prosecutors said the fraudulent activity resulted in significant financial losses to Medicare and involved medically unnecessary procedures.
According to court documents, Robinson, age 44, worked with telemedicine companies between December 2018 and March 2021 to sign off on medical documentation—including doctors’ orders—for durable medical equipment and genetic tests that were not needed. The orders were generated based on information collected from telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries. Robinson generally did not contact these patients directly or have any provider-patient relationship with them.
As a result of this scheme, suppliers and laboratories submitted more than $2.7 million in claims to Medicare for equipment and tests that were medically unnecessary and supported by false documentation. In October 2025, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud after being charged two months earlier.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the sentencing along with officials from several investigative agencies including the Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross prosecuted the case.
Robinson was also ordered by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to pay over $2.78 million in restitution and will serve one year of supervised release following his prison term.