Counselor Convicted on Perjury Charges

February 7, 2008 - Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported today that a licensed professional counselor pled guilty to charges of perjury in a workers’ compensation fraud-related case.

A Travis County district court sentenced John Ann Morgan of Bellaire to one year of deferred adjudication. The court also ordered her to pay a $2,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Morgan presented false testimony on matters relating to the investigation of Ihsan Shanti, M.D. of Houston and his health care facility, Shanti Pain & Wellness Clinic. Morgan has provided counseling services to patients at the clinic since 2002.

Shanti and his clinic were indicted in 2006 on felony workers’ compensation fraud-related charges as a result of investigations conducted by Texas Mutual Insurance Company and the State Office of Risk Management.

The indictments alleged that between January 2003 and March 2006, Shanti and his clinic over-billed Texas Mutual Insurance Company and the State Office of Risk Management for pain management services in excess of hours actually attended by patients.

The Morgan investigation was part of Texas Mutual Insurance Company’s zero tolerance for fraud policy. The company maintains three teams of investigators permanently assigned to investigate every report of suspected fraud.

Note: A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation - not a conviction - of criminal conduct.