By CaraLynn Caulfield
A Great Neck gastroenterologist has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly collecting more than $100,000 in Social Security Disability and Early Retirement benefits while continuing to treat patients and bill Medicare for over $700,000 in services.
Dr. Joseph Golyan, 64, is accused of defrauding the federal government between September 2021 and May 2025, claiming he was unable to work while maintaining an active medical practice and billing Medicare under multiple provider IDs linked to different medical entities.
Authorities launched an investigation in March 2024 after receiving a complaint that Golyan was receiving disability benefits while still working. According to investigators from the DA’s Office, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Golyan initially applied for disability benefits in June 2021 and later for Early Retirement benefits in December 2022.
Despite telling the SSA he could not work and did not have a bank account, Golyan allegedly continued practicing medicine and submitting claims to Medicare. Records show he received more than $700,000 in reimbursements from 2021 through July 2024.
In August 2022, SSA contacted Golyan following reports that he was employed. He admitted to working as an independent contractor, earning about $6,000 annually. SSA later revoked his benefits and identified an overpayment of $42,862.
Nonetheless, Golyan allegedly reapplied for disability benefits in November 2023, citing injuries from an April 2023 car accident. That application was approved, and he received an additional $66,801 in payments — bringing his total alleged fraudulent benefits to more than $100,000.
Golyan was arraigned on June 9 before Judge Michele Johnson on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. He pleaded not guilty, was released to pre-trial services, and ordered to surrender his passport. He is scheduled to return to court on June 20. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
“Mr. Golyan exploited a system meant to protect the vulnerable,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA-OIG New York Field Division. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in uncovering this scheme.”