Officials have said that a U. S. man pleaded guilty for his role in a $14 million Medicare home healthcare scheme that billed the government for services not rendered.

Officials of the departments of Justice and Health & Human Services have revealed that Christopher Collins, 39, of Detroit, pleaded guilty before U. S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. He faces a maximum sentence in prison of 10 years and a fine of $250,000.

Court document have said that Collins admitted he submitted or facilitated submitting or causing the submission of some $7 million in false or fraudulent claims to the U. S. Medicare program from August 2007 to October 2009.

Court records further showed that in 2007 Collins says he was hired by Muhammad Shahab as a nurse to work at Patient Choice Home Healthcare Inc. Collins says he offered to become a beneficiary recruiter for Shahab and Patient Choice and offer people who did not need medical services or physical therapy kickbacks -- in cash -- for their Medicare patient information and signature for home care and physical therapy not performed.

Federal officials say that Shahab and four others have pleaded guilty for their participation in the Medicare home health scheme. (With Inputs from Agencies)