Former Braking Point Recovery owner asks for more lenient sentencing in health care fraud case

The man who pleaded guilty in the Braking Point rehab facility fraud conspiracy is now asking the judge to be more lenient on his sentencing.

Ryan Sheridan, 39, pleaded and was found guilty on a sixty count federal indictment in October.

The charges against him included conspiracy to commit health care fraud, drug conspiracy, running a drug premises, and money laundering.

Sheridan will be sentenced Wednesday and faces more than ten years in prison and restitution of more than $24 million.

Now, letters submitted by Sheridan and those who know him are asking for the judge to be lenient in his sentencing.

The 32-page memorandum, submitted by Sheridan's attorney, proposes reasoning as to why Sheridan should not serve the sentence prosecutors are asking for. 

Letters say the one-time businessman and developer struggled with drugs and alcohol, as well as abuse and neglect, before trying to turn his life around.

According to the submitted memorandum, "The emotional scars led him down the path to substance abuse and by 2001, he entered a short-term treatment program. Thereafter, Mr. Sheridan chose to live a positive life, and eventually began the “Braking Point” treatment business, but continued to deal with and struggle with addiction."

Six people including Sheridan were named in the 60-count federal indictment for billing Medicaid $48 million for drug and alcohol recovery services not provided, not medically necessary, lacked proper documentation, or had other issues that made them ineligible for reimbursement.

Prosecutors say Sheridan illegally billed Medicaid and used the registration of a doctor who no longer worked for him to obtain Suboxone for clients at the now-closed Breaking Point facility, whether they were prescribed it or not.

"Mr. Sheridan accepted responsibility for his actions by entering a guilty plea to the Indictment. At the time of the offense, Mr. Sheridan was in and out of the grips of addiction which further clouded his judgment and, while not an excuse, contributed greatly to his unlawful conduct," according to the submitted memorandum.