FARMINGTON -- An Industry man has been indicted by a Franklin County grand jury for allegedly passing himself off as a licensed physical therapist at a Farmington nursing home by using a license obtained with bogus information.

Brent P. Dellarma, 44, of 293 West Mills Road, is charged with aggravated forgery, a Class B felony, because he allegedly filed a public document with a public office with the intent to defraud or deceive. In this case, it was with the Board of Examiners in Physical Therapy in the state's Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, prosecutors allege.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt but an indication that enough evidence exists to take a case to trial.

Dellarma also was indicted on two counts of felony theft by deception. One count refers to the wages paid to Dellarma by Genesis Rehabilitation Services, the company that owns Sandy River Center for Health Care on Livermore Falls Road, in excess of $1,000. The other count was in connection with what prosecutors say was a scheme to defraud the state of Maine Medical Assistance Program, known as MaineCare, and the government Medicare program of more than $10,000. Those are medical programs for the poor and the elderly.

In a fourth charge, the grand jury indicted Dellarma for unlicensed practice of physical therapy, a misdemeanor.

Dellarma practiced at Sandy River between June 18, 2007 and April 8, 2008, according to Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue, who works in the state's Health Care Crimes Unit.

On Monday, a company official at Genesis issued a written statement via e-mail.

Dellarma "was employed as a physical therapy assistant and later as a licensed physical therapist at Sandy River Center," according to the statement from spokeswoman Jeanne Moore. "When management suspected that there might be a discrepancy, ... he was immediately suspended and later terminated. We also immediately contacted the Department of Health and the local authorities. The Attorney General's office was also contacted.

"We take issues like this very seriously and are cooperating fully with the authorities as they handle this situation," the statement continues. "This is an isolated incident and is not a reflection of the overall quality of care provided to our patients every day. We remain committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment for the patients in our care."

The prosecutor said Dellarma misrepresented his qualifications.

"(Dellarma) presented himself as a physical therapist when he was not," Bogue said Monday.

"When we reviewed the charges, we did not find any indication patients were harmed; otherwise there would have been a charge of endangering," she said.

Bogue said she could not release more information, because the case remains under investigation.

The Franklin County grand jury rose last week but Dellarma's indictment was impounded until his arrest, Bogue said. State police Trooper Aaron Turcotte arrested him Friday.

Dellarma posted $1,000 cash bail and is scheduled for a court appearance Jan. 23 in Franklin County Superior Court.

Bogue said if Dellarma is found guilty, restitution will be sought as part of his sentencing.

The Health Care Crimes Unit, the state's designated Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, is a federally-funded unit charged with investigating and prosecuting MaineCare fraud and financial exploitation and abuse of patients by providers and employees.

The unit investigates cases such as billing for services not provided or performed, dispensing generic drugs and billing for brand name drugs, billing for unnecessary services, kickbacks, double-billing, denial of necessary services or procedures, and embezzlement.

It also investigates physical, mental and emotional abuse and neglect of patients, Bogue said.

"We get referrals from everywhere," she said. "We go after providers, not recipients."

She said the unit's staff includes three detectives, an auditor and two assistant attorney generals.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com