A former South Sound area doctor has been arrested in Madagascar and deported back to the United States to face charges of health care fraud.

A federal warrant had been issued for the arrest of Antoine Johnson, a 38-year-old doctor and former owner of four medical clinics, in Tacoma, Lakewood, Olympia and Aberdeen.

Johnson has been charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The charge followed an audit by the state Department of Social and Health Services of the Medicaid billing practices at Johnson’s clinics.

He made an initial court appearance Monday in Atlanta and waived future detention hearings. He is being held in Atlanta until he can be returned to Washington to face trial, said Emily Langlie, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.

Investigators also looked into allegations that the clinics – which included Johnson Family Practice in Lakewood and Tacoma – were dispensing narcotic prescriptions for cash payments and without first examining the patients, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As part of the investigation, undercover agents posed as patients and visited the clinics.

“A review of bills received by the state following those visits indicate that the clinics billed for a higher level of service than was actually provided, and for services not provided,” according to prosecutors.

Johnson’s mother, Lawanda Johnson, also has been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud for her alleged involvement in the fraudulent billing practices. She remains a fugitive and was last traced to Madagascar.

The Johnsons closed the four clinics and left the country shortly after federal agents searched the facilities and Lawanda Johnson’s home in January.

Madagascar law enforcement officials recently arrested Antoine Johnson after learning that his U.S. passport had expired and he had a federal warrant for his arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

He reportedly agreed to voluntarily return to the U.S. to face the federal charges. A U.S. law enforcement official accompanied Johnson on a flight back to the United States on Saturday. The U.S. Marshal Service will bring him to Washington.

Conviction of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

The state medical commission also filed charges against Antoine Johnson. This summer, the state Department of Health’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission found he had engaged in unprofessional conduct and revoked his license to practice as a surgeon and physician in the state.

In 2007, Antoine Johnson was given a community achievement award by the City of Tacoma’s Human Rights division at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268

stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com

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