[caption id="attachment_6526" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Judge's tools"]
[/caption]DOJ - GHN News Editor - United States District Judge Gary A. Feess,said Goethe’s conduct was
“essentially a shakedown of those...over whom he has authority and the
ability to control.”
Rehabilitation companies are used to
being evaluated, so it likely comes as a surprise for someone to be
arrested for a shakedown of these clinics, but it happened to a man
recently, who was given a prison sentence for it.
A
former employee of the California agency charged with inspecting
alcohol and drug abuse programs across the state was sentenced today to
41 months in federal prison after being convicted on federal corruption
charges for demanding more than $100,000 in bribes from the owners of
two drug rehabilitation clinics.
Gary Eugene Goethe, 48, of Sacramento, was sentenced this afternoon by Judge Gary E. Feess.
Goethe had pleaded guilty in May of 2010
of four counts of extortion under color of official right and two
counts of bribery. In addition to the prison term he received, Goethe
was ordered to repay the bribes he received during the FBI’s undercover
investigation of his corrupt activities.
of four counts of extortion under color of official right and two
counts of bribery. In addition to the prison term he received, Goethe
was ordered to repay the bribes he received during the FBI’s undercover
investigation of his corrupt activities.
At the time of the "shakedown" Goethe
worked for the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP)
as a Drug Medi-Cal Monitoring Supervisor who traveled to alcohol and
drug treatment clinics throughout California to inspect records and
documentation related to Medi-Cal billings. ADP, which receives millions
of dollars in funding every year from the United States government, is
responsible for administering prevention, treatment and recovery
services for alcohol abuse, drug abuse and problem gambling.
worked for the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP)
as a Drug Medi-Cal Monitoring Supervisor who traveled to alcohol and
drug treatment clinics throughout California to inspect records and
documentation related to Medi-Cal billings. ADP, which receives millions
of dollars in funding every year from the United States government, is
responsible for administering prevention, treatment and recovery
services for alcohol abuse, drug abuse and problem gambling.
Goethe
was arrested on July 9, 2009 by Special Agents with the FBI as he was
leaving a meeting where he accepted a $3,500 cash payment that was part
of a $10,000 bribe he had negotiated. Goethe subsequently pleaded guilty
to having solicited and accepted bribes from rehabilitation facility
owners in exchange for his promises of approvals and other benefits.
was arrested on July 9, 2009 by Special Agents with the FBI as he was
leaving a meeting where he accepted a $3,500 cash payment that was part
of a $10,000 bribe he had negotiated. Goethe subsequently pleaded guilty
to having solicited and accepted bribes from rehabilitation facility
owners in exchange for his promises of approvals and other benefits.
Goethe
admitted in a plea agreement he told a clinic owner that he could help
the owner obtain certifications that would allow the owner to expand
service offerings to include mental health treatment. Goethe admitted
having promised that, in exchange for cash bribery payments, he could
“guarantee” that the owner’s clinics would obtain certification to
provide mental health treatment services. Goethe demanded $92,000 in
bribery payments from the owner.
admitted in a plea agreement he told a clinic owner that he could help
the owner obtain certifications that would allow the owner to expand
service offerings to include mental health treatment. Goethe admitted
having promised that, in exchange for cash bribery payments, he could
“guarantee” that the owner’s clinics would obtain certification to
provide mental health treatment services. Goethe demanded $92,000 in
bribery payments from the owner.
In
relation to another facility, Goethe revealed to the owner that the
clinic was being investigated by the California Department of Justice,
but, in exchange for a cash bribe, Goethe could “help” the clinic owner
by providing confidential information about the subjects and progress of
the investigation, as well as steering CalDOJ away from the clinic.
Goethe demanded $10,000 in bribe payments from the owner of this
facility.
relation to another facility, Goethe revealed to the owner that the
clinic was being investigated by the California Department of Justice,
but, in exchange for a cash bribe, Goethe could “help” the clinic owner
by providing confidential information about the subjects and progress of
the investigation, as well as steering CalDOJ away from the clinic.
Goethe demanded $10,000 in bribe payments from the owner of this
facility.
Corruption
occurs at state agencies and at all levels of government and the
private sector, even in the helping professions, as Goethe's arrest
surely shows.
