Judge in EMSA civil case told of new inquiry
EMSA’s CEO has indicated to a federal judge overseeing a civil case against the ambulance service that there is now “a pending criminal investigation,” too.
Attorneys for CEO Stephen Williamson made the disclosure to the judge July 20 in a request for more time to respond to certain questions in the civil case, records show.
U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant denied the request in a written order filed July 21 in federal court in Sherman, Texas.
The judge noted in his order that attorneys had explained that Williamson “would be in a better position” after a delay “to decide whether he needed to plead the Fifth Amendment” to the questions.
The Emergency Medical Services Authority provides ambulance service to more than 1.1 million residents in central and northeast Oklahoma. In January, the federal government accused EMSA and Williamson in a civil fraud case in Texas of accepting more than $20 million in illegal kickbacks from a former contractor.
The government is seeking millions of dollars in damages and civil penalties from EMSA. The case is filed in Texas because that is where the former contractor is based.
A defendant in a civil case sometimes will “plead the Fifth” and refuse to answer questions, even while denying wrongdoing. The tactic is used to avoid the possibility a prosecutor will use a response as evidence at trial if a criminal charge is ever filed.
Williamson and EMSA deny wrongdoing. Attorneys for Williamson did not respond Monday to messages left for comment about what was told the judge.
In a statement Monday, EMSA said it “has not been contacted regarding any pending criminal investigation.”
“EMSA’s long-standing practice is to cooperate with requests from federal and state regulatory agencies, including law enforcement,” it said. “We continue to work toward dismissal of the civil action. EMSA has a long-standing reputation for providing Oklahomans with the highest quality ambulance service and remains committed to serving our patients and communities.”