Oakland County doctor to stand trial for alleged $400K disability insurance fraud scheme

A doctor will stand trial in Oakland County on charges stemming from an alleged fraudulent disability insurance claim.

Dr. Rainna Furnari Brazil, 57, of Sylvan Lake, is accused of fraudulently claiming disability insurance and subsequently receiving years of payments. Brazil, a licensed osteopathic physician, allegedly applied for and received disability insurance payments from the Unum Life Insurance Company of America.

Investigators found that Brazil, despite her professional standing as a physician, was receiving over $400,000 in disability insurance payments from 2017 through 2021 -- a staggering amount that officials said raises serious questions about the integrity of the system.

“Insurance fraud, on as large a scale as is alleged here or in any measure, ultimately hurts other insurance customers and honest claimants,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said when Brazil was arraigned last month.

Officials said Brazil lied repeatedly to the insurance company, denying that she had been working as a physician for compensation. She was bound over for trial on Tuesday, April 16.

Brazil was charged with:

• Three counts of false pretenses – $100,000 or more, a felony punishable by 20 years and/or a fine of $35,000.
• Two counts of false pretenses ― $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a felony punishable by 15 years and/or a fine of $15,000.
• Two counts of taxes – failure to file, a felony punishable by five years.
• One count of insurance fraud, a felony punishable by four years and/or a fine of $50,0000.

“Disability insurance coverage provides an important lifeline for Michiganders when they need it most, and those who engage in fraud related to these policies drive up the cost of insurance for all Michigan consumers and businesses,” Anita Fox, director of the department of insurance and financial services, said at the time of Brazil’s arraignment.

Anyone in Michigan who suspects fraud can report it online right here, or call DIFS at 1-877-999-6442 anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.