Posted on 10/29/2005 12:12:36 PM PDT by kinghorse
Man Charged In Fake Flu Shot Case Shots Contain Purified Water
POSTED: 4:56 pm CDT October 28, 2005 UPDATED: 5:15 pm CDT October 28, 2005
HOUSTON -- A man was charged Friday, accused of intentionally administering fake flu shots to hundreds of ExxonMobil employees, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Iyad Abu El Hawa, 35, is accused of attempting to defraud Medicare by giving fake flu vaccines, according to U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. Officials said El Hawa substituted a purified form of water for the vaccine.
Investigators said the bogus flu shots were given at an ExxonMobil health fair on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Baytown refinery. About 1,100 people received them.
According to court papers, El Hawa admitted to giving the fake shots to the ExxonMobil employees and also to 14 senior citizens at a La Porte nursing home last Friday.
He also told federal agents he had done it other times, as well, officials said.
"This is a callous and disturbing crime. Mr. El Hawa purposely put at risk many, many people. He put at risk those who thought they were being inoculated against the flu, but in fact, were not. He also put at risk those who received a fake vaccine and those for whom that provide care," Rosenberg said.
El Hawa is the owner of Comfort & Care Home Health, 10101 Harwin, and operates two other facilities -- America Home Health and Universal Home Health Care Services.
He was arrested and placed in federal custody Thursday night. If convicted, El Hawa faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. More charges could be filed, prosecutors said.
Officials said the case came to light when a nurse called the FBI after El Hawa's employees were unable to supply a lot number for the vaccine.
What a coincidence!
Why is everybody upset. The fake flu shots do prevent the fake flu.
PLACEBO ALERT! PLACEBO ALERT!
I think I'm feeling the effects of Placebo Flu, but that's probably because they inject a little placebo in each placebo flu shot to build up our tolerance to placebo, doesn't it??? :^)
Placebo pills are effective too. I have yet to hear of a case where a person taking Placebo pills has come down with a case of Placebo.
I prefer the placebo capsules,...the placebo pills are just too harsh on my stomach lining....
It's all right. He's only killing employees of evil oil companies.
/sarcasm
Now THAT fills in many gaps with the CIA, OK City bombing, and this lst attempted SUICIDE BOMBING at the Univ of OK.
We are at war and half of our war is with certain insiders withinour own govt!
I do suggest a good cache of ammunition for the upcoming battles.
But "Islam is a religion of peace"!(sarcasm)
bump
Nationality ???
Is he a Muslim???
I would not trust any company that is owned or operated by a Muslim !!!!!
Nationality???
Muslim????
Why would anyone trust any Muslim no matter what his degree is or what company he works for, manages or owns.
Maybe this is exxon's way of reducing their future pension liabilities...
Lammons testified that El Hawa said he bought the flu shots from two men named Larry and Robert in September and agreed to purchase 5,000 flu vaccines for $50,000.
You can't make this stuff up!
Here's today's Chronicle article http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3432392
Iyad Abu El Hawa is a flight risk and apparently has lied to federal investigators about his scheme to defraud Medicare, said U.S. Magistrate Nancy Johnson in a hearing Tuesday.
Johnson said that since El Hawa has nine siblings living in Israel and holds Israeli and Jordanian passports, he might flee before his trial.
His attorney, Alphonsus O. Ezeoke, however, said El Hawa is innocent and wouldn't flee because he wants to clear his name.
He may appeal Johnson's decision.
Ezeoke said El Hawa agreed to give up his passports and wear an electronic monitoring device if Johnson granted him bail.
"I don't see how he is a flight risk," Ezeoke said.
. . .
Exxon Mobil said it had contacted the office of Baytown physician George Storm Walmsley to provide inoculations at the health fair. An employee at the office, Martha Denise Gonzales of Baytown, arranged for the flu shots at the fair, which occurred Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, FBI Special Agent Kevin Lammons testified Tuesday.
Gonzales later called El Hawa to say agents had questioned her about the flu vaccine and that other investigators then saw El Hawa toss some syringes filled with the solution into a Dumpster near the offices of Comfort & Caring Home Health, which El Hawa owns, in the 10100 block of Harwin, Lammons said.
Gonzales declined to comment.
"I never authorized or engaged in any agreement for the administering of any shots," said Walmsley, a family practitioner. "I was duped by my office manager."
Walmsley said he terminated Gonzales after learning of her dual employment with his office and Comfort & Caring Home Health, which performed the vaccinations.
Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Jeanne Miller said the company contracted with Walmsley's office for the inoculations and never agreed to have the job subcontracted to another party.
See post 56.
Here's more on the 2003 case:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2004_news/04-009.htm
Washington State Department of Health:
""In December 2003 the Counselor Programs charged counselor Shahid H. Sheikh (RC00047280) with unprofessional conduct. Sheikh allegedly represented himself as a doctor and provided flu vaccines to numerous clients for a fee. In December 2003 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued Notice of Intent to Issue Cease and Desist Order against Sheikh for administering these vaccinations without a license to do so. Shahid H. Sheikh is also known as Sahid Sheikh.""
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2004_news/04-019.htm
""In February 2004 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued an order against Sahid Sheikh to permanently cease and desist from engaging in the conduct constituting practice as a medical doctor. Sheikh represented himself as a doctor and provided flu vaccines to numerous clients for a fee. Sahid Sheikh is also known as Shahid H. Sheikh. In February 2004 the Counselor Programs revoked his license to practice as a registered counselor (RC00047280).""
The Washington health dept offered HIV and hepatitis tests to people given shots
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/providers/epidemiology/unlicensed-vaccine.htm
""December 31, 2003
Information for Healthcare Providers Regarding the Unlicensed Administration of Influenza Vaccine in Washington State
From approximately October 1 to December 13, 2003, injections of influenza vaccine were administered in Washington State by unlicensed individuals employed by Shahid Sheikh of Bellevue, Washington. ""
He was also in Nevada
http://www.cchd.org/download/news/archived_releases/2004/010504.pdf
From 2004, reports (someone else, I guess) from Virginia goint around in vans, offering fake shots
http://www.oag.state.va.us/media%20center/Current%20AG%20News%20Releases/102504_Kilgore_Warns_of_Flu_Vaccine_Scams.htm
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