Mira Mesa dentist facing criminal charges

Dentist Could Face up to 83 Years in Prison for Monumental Insurance Fraud

Mira Mesa – A Mira Mesa dentist is facing criminal charges for fraudulently billing multiple insurance companies a staggering total of $592,550 for root canals she allegedly never actually performed.

April Rose Ambrosio, 58, was taken to court last June 10 in San Diego Superior Court for 75 counts of insurance fraud, billed eight insurance companies for $592,550 and falsely claiming she performed 623 root canals on 75 patients. Her scheme involved performing 100 root canals for a family of four over a three-month period.

District Attorney Summer Stephan said, “This is a case of repeated and flagrant fraud by a medical professional.” He also commented on the ill-effects of such a scam on honest consumers. He said, “Unfortunately, when scam artists bill for dental services not rendered, they get rich at the expense of honest consumers who ultimately pay the price through higher premiums.”

California Department of Insurance had been investigating Ambrosio for two years working closely with the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Division. Investigators say Ambrosio had been running her billing scam for three years. During this time, she ultimately received more than $200,000.

State insurance officials did not name the eight insurance companies that were hit with costly fraudulent bills in this scam.

“Medical providers are held to the highest standard and their patients trust them to be honest when it comes to their care,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Ambrosio violated that trust when she fraudulently billed for services she never performed.”

The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC has taken Ambrosio as a client.

If Ambrosio is convicted of all charges, she faces up to 83 years in prison. She’s due back in court on September 5.