The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today announced that a doctor once employed by Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City was sentenced for stealing from the hospital and cheating on his income taxes.

Dr. Lawrence J. Levitan, 58, an obstetrician and gynecologist, of 37 Auerbach Lane, Lawrence, NY, in February of this year plead guilty to two charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree,  one count of theft from Beth Israel Medical Center, his former employer, and one count for theft of unwarranted tax refunds from the Tax Department.

Levitan was sentenced in state Supreme Court in Manhattan to six months in jail, five years probation and 1,000 hours of community service as a condition of his probation.  The defendant also made restitution to the State of $64,495, the full amount of personal income tax, penalty and interest due the State.

Levitan was required to split $530,000 worth of insurance payments for patient services evenly with Beth Israel.  Instead, he deposited 100% of the insurance checks of 706 of his patients directly into his personal bank account, resulting in the theft of approximately $267,000. 

As a consequence of Levitan’s inaccurate records, Beth Israel underreported his taxable wages in 2010 and 2011, and Levitan received income tax refunds he wasn’t entitled to.

The case was prosecuted by the office of New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.

“Thanks to the effort of District Attorney Vance, and the cooperation of Beth Israel, a scheme to cheat the hospital and the taxpayers of New York out of hundreds of thousands of dollars was shut down,” said Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox.  “I commend the District Attorney for his continued diligence in prosecuting tax evasion and other forms of economic crime.”