Schneiderman announces guilty plea of Broome Taxi owner for Medicaid fraud

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on Wednesday announced the guilty plea of Darin Cox, owner and operator of Broome Taxi.

Cox, age 44 and a resident of Johnson City, pled guilty for his allegedly fraudulent actions in obtaining more than $3,000 from the Medicaid system by operating his business without the licensing necessary to operate a taxicab in Broome County, according to a news release from the attorney general. Specifically, he pled guilty to one count of grand larceny in the third degree, which is a Class D felony.

Cox faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 23.

The defendant received payments from the Medicaid program for transporting Medicaid beneficiaries to medical appointments. During the period from March 18, 2105, to April 29, 2016, Cox “knowingly operated his business in violation of Broome County transportation regulations by failing to possess a Broome County-issued taxicab license; a Broome County-issued taxi business license; and a valid New York State Class “E” driver’s license,” per the state attorney general.

The defendant’s Class “E” driver’s license was suspended on March 30, 2015. 

In addition to his failure to maintain the required licenses, in 2014 and 2015 Cox submitted forms that falsely certified that his business had all the licensing required to operate a taxicab in Broome County, according to superior court information.

During the time that his company was unlawfully operated, the defendant obtained more than $100,000 in Medicaid payments, Schneiderman’s office said.

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