Audiologist sentenced to prison for health care fraud

TAMPA — A federal judge in Tampa sentenced Terri Schneider, 57, of Lakeland to seven years and 10 months in prison for her role in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme.

In December, a jury convicted Schneider and co-conspirator David Lovelace of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and aggravated identity theft, a statement says. In addition, Schneider was ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution. Lovelace was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years and six months in prison.

Between June 2010 and May 2014, Schneider and co-conspirators used Cornerstone Health Specialists, Summit Health Specialists and Coastal Health Specialists to submit more than $12 million in fraudulent claims, the statement says. Medicare paid more than $2.8 million on those claims.