Four individuals, including two physicians, have been indicted in the Eastern District of Texas on federal charges related to a university athletic billing scheme, as announced by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
The indicted individuals include Mouzon Bass, III, also known as Muzzy Bass, 58, of Highland Park; Lance West Wilson, 54, of Allen; Robert Brent Scott, 59, of La Quinta, CA; and Kyle Kelly Carter, 61, of Keller. They were charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to commit healthcare fraud, and conspiring to commit money laundering.
The indictments allege that from approximately 2014 through 2023, Bass and Wilson utilized their company, Vivature, to submit false claims to private insurance carriers. These claims represented that physicians, including Scott and Carter, were providing medical services for injured student-athletes at universities nationwide. In reality, the physicians did not treat the athletes, and the services were performed by athletic trainers, often excluded from insurance reimbursement policies. Vivature, directed by Bass and Wilson, submitted thousands of false claims, naming physicians as servicing providers. Physicians received payments in exchange for allowing the use of their credentials.
A separate conspiracy involving Bass, Wilson, and Scott targeted Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) government funds earmarked for COVID-19 testing for uninsured Americans. The defendants partnered with international resorts hosting American travelers and submitted thousands of reimbursement claims to HRSA, despite travelers being privately insured and ineligible under the program.
Collectively, the defendants are alleged to have obtained over $70 million from the schemes. The funds were used to pay themselves millions, acquire real estate, including a multi-million dollar home, lakehouse, and international residence, and purchase a multi-million dollar yacht.
The FBI is conducting the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in Plano. The defendants have made initial appearances in federal court this month.
