‘Godfather’ gets 54 years in $150 million California workers’ comp scheme
A man, who Riverside County Superior Court records say called himself “The Godfather,” was ordered to serve 54 years in state prison and pay $23 million in fines for masterminding a criminal organization that attempted to bilk the state out of $150 million in a workers’ compensation fraud, the District Attorney’s Office said on Monday, April 15.
Judge Charles J. Koosed sentenced Peyman Heidary, 53, on Friday, April 12, after his January conviction on 68 counts of insurance fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and other crimes, including falsely advertising himself as a lawyer.
Koosed said Heidary had a deep knowledge of workers’ compensation.
Heidary, a chiropractor, operated sham law firms and medical clinics in Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.
From 2009 to 2014 Heidary used his law firm to recruit legitimately injured people and exaggerated their injuries. He ordered his employees to provide unnecessary treatments that resulted in inflated billings to insurance companies, the DA’s Office said.
“The California workers’ compensation system is designed to help injured workers get back on their feet without ruining them financially,” District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a statement. “Sophisticated criminals like Mr. Heidary don’t just steal money, they take advantage of innocent patients. The sentence handed down … sends a strong message that these types of offenses will not be tolerated in Riverside County.”
Heidary was charged in 2014. The criminal complaint listed his aliases as Brian Heidary, The Godfather and Number One. His attorney at the time said Heidary referred to himself as the latter two as a joke. A message left with his current attorney on Monday seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Heidary was listed in public records as president of California Health Care Management in Corona, Anaheim and La Habra; The Best of California Promotions and Management in Corona, Fullerton and Orange; Heidary Chiropractic in Corona, Fullerton and Anaheim; Doctor’s Reports Inc. in Fullerton and La Habra; California Injury Lawyers in Corona; and California Lawyers Network in Industry. Other records showed Heidary was a past managing member of the Riverside Health Clinic, the Corona Health Clinic and the Santa Ana Health Clinic.
At the time of his arrest, the DA’s Office said insurance companies had paid him less than $50 million.
Two others were convicted in the case.
Cary David Abramowitz was convicted of three counts of insurance fraud and one count of conspiracy in 2021. He was sentenced to about one year in the Sheriff’s Department’s work-release program.
Erica Torres was convicted of seven counts of insurance fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20.