A Colorado physician was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for fraudulently obtaining and misusing $250,000 in COVID-19 relief program funds.
Francis Joseph, MD, 58, was the supervisory physician at Colorado Springs-based Springs Medical Associates, according to a June 1 Justice Department news release. From March 2020 through June 2020, Dr. Joseph applied for and received relief funds from the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. Dr. Joseph used those funds for his personal expenses.
A federal jury found him guilty of theft in connection with healthcare and wire fraud, according to a Jan. 17 Justice Department news release.