Missouri Couple Sentenced for Fraud Involving Health Clinic

A Kansas City couple has been ordered to pay $660,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to health care and tax fraud involving a clinic they operated in Kansas City.

Seventy-six-year-old Carol Ann Ryser and 68-year-old Michael Earl Ryser operated Health Centers of America in south Kansas City until it closed in March as part of a plea agreement.

The Kansas City Star reported Monday that Michael Ryser also was ordered to serve two years in prison. Carol Ryser was placed on probation for three years and ordered to surrender her medical license.

Prosecutors say the Rysers made several false claims to government and private insurance providers and filed a false income tax return. Most of the restitution is owed to the Internal Revenue Service.