SOURCE: www.ins.state.ny.us
An Ulster County chiropractor was arrested June 15 for posing as an Insurance Department Frauds Bureau investigator and threatening to arrest another chiropractor, the New York State Insurance Department reported.
Seth Peyser, 48, of Gardiner, is accused of threatening the chiropractor that he would be arrested for insurance fraud if the chiropractor didn’t authorize surgery for one of Peyser’s patients.
The incident is alleged to have occurred after the patient was seen for an independent examination to determine whether the patient was eligible for surgery. Peyser accompanied his patient to the exam, which was conducted at the examining chiropractor’s office in Dutchess County.
The examining chiropractor told authorities that at the end of the exam, Peyser appeared agitated and said, “You better listen to what I have to say or you’re going down.” Peyser then allegedly threatened the chiropractor with arrest if he didn’t authorize surgery and displayed the business card of an authentic Frauds Bureau investigator.
Suspicious of Peyser’s behavior, the chiropractor contacted authorities.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department later arrested Peyser for second degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor, after he admitted to investigators that he had misrepresented himself.
If he is convicted, Peyser could be sentenced to up to one year in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Kunka.