A former home healthcare staffing executive was convicted of obstructing a Federal Trade Commission investigation into wage fixing but was acquitted of two other charges, the US Department of Justice reported last Thursday. The verdict came after an eight-day trial in Texas.
The executive, Neeraj Jindal, obstructed an FTC investigation in 2017 into an alleged illegal agreement to fix rates paid to therapists for treating home health agency patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, the DOJ reported. Jindal at the time owned a Texas-based therapist staffing company providing in-home physical therapy services.
Jindal was acquitted of two other charges in the same indictment, according to the department. Those charges were antitrust conspiracy, price fixing, and conspiracy to commit offense.
In addition, co-defendant John Rodgers, a physical therapist and clinical director of the company, was acquitted of all charges against him.
On the obstruction charge, Jindal faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the department. Sentencing has not yet taken place.