Westlake dentist, 3 others convicted in kickback

A Westlake man and three others are awaiting sentencing after they were found guilty in a federal trial to a number of charges connected to a racketeering scheme.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Yazan B. Al-Madani, 34, as well as Edward R. Hills, 58, of Aurora, Ari Alqsous, 34, of Cleveland and Tariq Sayegh, 38, of Cleveland, will face sentencing at 9 a.m. Nov. 27.

They were found guilty July 27 on a slew of charges.

According to court documents, Al-Madani was found guilty of conspiracy of racketeering in corrupt organizations, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, solicit, receive, offer and pay health care kickbacks, three counts of conspiracy to commit honest services and money and property mail and wire fraud, two counts of bribery in relation to federally funded program, seven counts of offering or paying kickbacks in connection with federal health care program, conspiracy to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses and false statements or representations.

The three other defendants in the case were convicted of similar crimes.

According to the release, Hills held several positions at MetroHealth in Cleveland, including chief operating officer, director, interim president and CEO, while Al-Madani, Sayegh and Alqsous are dentists who work with the hospital system.

In a federal indictment filed Oct. 19, 2016, the scheme was undertaken from January 2008 to April 2016 and saw Al-Madani, Sayegh and Alqsous paying various kickbacks in cash, goods and housing to Hills.