Marlboro physical therapist indicted on health insurance fraud counts

A physical therapist from Marlboro, with practices in Middlesex County, awaits possible trial, accused of collecting more than $24,000 from nine health insurors for non-existent services.

Marina Dreytser, 43, owner of A&M Physical Therapy of Old Bridge and AM Phiscial Therapy of Edison, is subject to an indictment listing 16 second-degree counts of health insurance fraud, and three third-degree counts of theft by deception, according to information from the office of New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino.

The indictment, reached June 1, identifies 16 allegedly false claims submitted between June and October 2014.

Investigators beleive that the claims totaled $24,485 for treatments attributed to Dreytser or another practitioner, which they said never took place. The time frame includes two weeks during which Dreysler was vacationing in Peru, authorities said.

According to investigators, claims were sent to Aetna Health Plans, Allstate Insurance Company, Cigna, Cigna Health Plans, GEICO, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina, New Jersey Medicare, and United Healthcare.

Conviction for one second-degree crime carries a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and fines as high as $150,000. Third-degree convictions can mean three to five years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

Deputy Attorney General Michael Clore presented the case to the grand jury. The investigation was coordinated by Detectives Justin Callahan, Ronald Allen and James Mahady, and analyst Marwa Kashef. The Attorney General's office did not indicate whether Dreytser retained legal representation.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.