A local ambulance worker has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme. 

Ivan Tkach, 30, of Newtown, was sentenced Tuesday for his role in the fraud scheme.  In January, Tkach pleaded guilty and admitted he was involved in a private ambulance company’s health care fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tkach gave false statements in his application for reinstatement to the Medicare program and paid illegal kickbacks to a secretary at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  In addition to the prison term, Tkach must pay $1.26 million in restitution to Medicare.

Tkach was excluded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2004 from providing services under the Medicare Program due to his prior criminal convictions, yet continued to operate Advantage Ambulance Company and drive patients in ambulances, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tkach was indicted along with his boss Ilya Sivchuk, who was convicted by a jury in November 2011 and is awaiting sentencing.

Tkach ran Advantage with the knowledge of Sivchuk, who also made false statements regarding the nature of Tkach’s employment to federal agents.  In addition, Tkach gave kickback payments in 2008 to a worker at a Philadelphia kidney dialysis center in exchange for patient referrals to Advantage Ambulance, which has a new owner.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.