- Michael Lohan, 60, was charged with six counts related to
Florida 's patient brokering law. - Lohan was arrested on Friday by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and released the same day.
- He's accused of bringing addicts to drug rehabilitation centers in exchange for illegal
kickbacks .
According to inmate records, Lohan was arrested by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and booked into the local jail just after 11 a.m. on Friday. He was released later that day. Lohan was charged with five counts of patient brokering and one count of conspiracy to commit patient brokering, Palm Beach County court records show.
A probable cause affidavit alleged that Lohan, who is president of Lola Recovery Ventures in Palm Beach Gardens, referred addicts to a substance abuse treatment facility known as Pride Recovery in exchange for kickbacks. The document said nine checks worth more than $27,000 were written to either Lohan or Lola Recovery Ventures.
Under Florida law, patient brokering is an illegal practice in which health care facilities pay to induce or steer patients towards their facilities.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg spoke out against patient brokering in a statement on Friday. Aronberg said Lohan was the 117th person arrested in connection with a task force's efforts to curb the unethical practice.
"Patient brokering corrupts our health care system because decisions are motivated by greed instead of a patient's needs," Aronberg said, the Associated Press reported.
Lohan's attorney, Heidi Perlet, told the Associated Press that her client maintained his innocence.
"Michael Lohan has helped countless individuals suffering from
Before this
Lohan also spent time in prison for insider trading and violating his probation. He was charged with attempted assault and a DUI in 2004, resulting in another prison stint, ABC
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Heidi Perlet did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.