San Francisco Psychiatrist George D. Karalis Gets Jail Sentence for Workers Comp Fraud

March 3, 2022

A San Francisco psychiatrist was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to serve 120 days in prison and pay $1.4 million restitution after he pleaded guilty to a scheme to submit false reports for non-disabled clients to receive federal benefits to which they were not entitled.

George Demetrius Karalis, 76, pleaded guilty Aug. 11 and was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The government’s sentencing memorandum describes meetings between Karalis and undercover agents where the defendant instructed his clients on how to obtain federal and state government benefits to which they were not entitled.

According to his plea agreement, Karalis admitted that between August 2015 and June 30, 2020, he treated U.S. Postal Service employees who were receiving Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) workers’ compensation benefits for alleged stress and psychological disorders.

Karalis counseled his non-disabled clients on how to continue receiving benefits to which they were not entitled. Karalis also admitted that he submitted false reports and certifications about his clients so that they could continue receiving FECA benefits.

Karalis admitted that the total loss attributable to his conduct is between $550,000 and $1,500,000. He also agreed to pay $1,400,000 in restitution, $920,000 of which will be paid to the U.S. Postal Service and $480,00 of which will be paid to the California Employment Development Department.

Source: “San Francisco Psychiatrist Sentenced For Fraudulent Workers’ Compensation Scheme,” KPIX CBS 5, Feb. 10, 2022, URL: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2022/02/10/san-francisco-psychiatrist-sentenced-for-fraudulent-workers-compensation-scheme/