Amtrak employee pleads guilty in $11 million healthcare fraud scheme

by
February 12, 2025
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NEWARK, N.J. — An Amtrak employee admitted Tuesday to participating in a multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme that defrauded the company’s insurance plan, federal prosecutors said.

Anthony Saloka, 44, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Prosecutors said Saloka and his co-conspirators allowed healthcare providers to use their personal and insurance information to submit fraudulent claims for services that were either never provided or medically unnecessary. In return, Saloka received thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks from providers, including acupuncturist Punson Figueroa and podiatrist Michael DeNicola.

The scheme, which ran from January 2019 through June 2022, resulted in over $11 million in fraudulent claims paid by the Amtrak health care plan. Figueroa was previously sentenced to 34 months in prison, while DeNicola has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Saloka faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on June 4, 2025.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

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