All language subtitles for Whistleblower.S01E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10

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>> I LIVED IN FEAR EVERY DAY.

WHAT I WOULD FACE.

>> YEAH, I WAS SCARED.

DID I THINK SOMETHING MIGHT
HAPPEN?

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN MONEY'S
INVOLVED.

THIS IS BUSINESS.

>> IT'S DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH.

>> IT'S A HUGE CORPORATION.

THE INTIMIDATION IS THERE.

IT'S THE FEAR FACTOR EVERYBODY
FEEDS ON.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN
SOMETHING JUST FEELS WRONG?

>> I WAS A DENTIST, AND I SAW
UNNECESSARY PROCEDURES, CHILDREN

BEING TRAUMATIZED.

I WAS STRESSED TO MY EYEBALLS.

>> WHEN YOU FEAR PEOPLE COULD
GET HURT?

>> I WOULD HEAR CHILDREN CRYING
AT WORK, ALL DAY.

>> Reporter: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT
THE STRESS FROM WORKING AT KOOL

SMILES BROKE UP YOUR MARRIAGE?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

IT IS GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
ABOUT YOU.

>> THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
LITTLE KIDS.

THEY WERE DOING BABY ROOT CANALS
ON TEETH THAT COULD'VE HAD

REGULAR FILLINGS.

IT WAS MONEY.

IT WAS PRODUCTION.

>> 911, WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY?

>> WE HAVE A CHILD THAT IS NON-
RESPONSIVE.

>> WOULD YOU BLOW THE WHISTLE?

THESE PEOPLE DID.

>> I AM DR. MICHAEL GREENWALD.

>> I'M DR. RAI.

>> I AM A WHISTLEBLOWER.

>> AND I'M A WHISTLEBLOWER.

>> I AM MYCHAL WILSON, AND I AM
A WHISTLEBLOWER.

I WAS A PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REP
FOR BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB, AND I

WITNESSED VARIOUS FORMS OF FRAUD
SUCH AS KICKBACKS IN EXCHANGE

FOR PRESCRIPTIONS.

>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK
PATIENTS WERE PUT AT RISK BY

THIS PROCEDURE?

>> COMPLETELY.

>> THEY USED THE LAW, GOING
UNDERCOVER...

>> I SAVED DOCUMENTS, AND I KEPT
THEM IN MY STORAGE UNIT.

WHEN SOMEONE'S DOCUMENTING YOU,
YOU SHOULD DOCUMENT THEM.

THIS IS THE HOT DOC BOX,
EVIDENCE WHICH WOULD LATER

BECOME VALUABLE EVIDENCE.

>> ...PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE
LINE.

>> I BECAME SO PARANOID THAT I
STARTED CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD

OF MY CAR.

>> FOR THE FEW WHO WIN, THE
REWARDS CAN BE STAGGERING.

>> I CAN SAY IT WAS A
MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR AWARD.

>> BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.

>> I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE GO INTO
BANKRUPTCY.

THEY GET BLACKLISTED.

IT'S VERY STRESSFUL.

>> I ALWAYS KNEW WHAT I WAS
DOING WAS RIGHT, AND I ALWAYS

KNEW THAT WHAT THEY WERE DOING
WAS WRONG.

>> THEIR BIGGEST MISTAKE
WAS HIRING ME.

>> Reporter: I'M ALEX FERRER.

THIS IS "WHITLEBLOWER."

WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU
IMAGINE WOULD EVER HAPPEN WHEN

YOU TAKE YOUR KID TO THE
DENTIST?

MEET DR. MICHAEL GREENWALD, A
SUCCESSFUL CONNECTICUT DENTIST

WHO SOLD HIS PRACTICE AND WENT
TRAVELING.

>> THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER
ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Reporter: YOU HAD YOUR FILL
OF ADVENTURE.

>> OH, LORD, IF I SAW ANOTHER
PALM TREE, I SWEAR I'D GO CRAZY.

>> Reporter: AN ONLINE JOB
POSTING CAUGHT HIS EYE.

>> HEY, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T
ALREADY KNOW, KOOL SMILES IS AN

AWESOME FAMILY DENTIST!

>> KOOL SMILES!

>> Reporter: KOOL SMILES IS A
MASSIVE, NATIONWIDE CORPORATION

WITH MORE THAN 120 CLINICS
CATERING TO KIDS.

>> KOOL SMILES TYPICALLY
TARGETED THOSE THAT ARE

RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAID.

IT IS AN INSURANCE THAT PROVIDES
COVERAGE FOR A POPULATION THAT

OTHERWISE COULDN'T SEEK
COVERAGE.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST, WOW, THIS
IS A GREAT IDEA.

WE'RE TREATING CHILDREN.

THEY'RE UNDERSERVED.

WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME GOOD.

>> Reporter: HE TOOK THE JOB,
AND REALITY HIT.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR FIRST
IMPRESSION WHEN YOU START

WORKING AT KOOL SMILES?

>> FIRST IMPRESSION?

PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: LIKE A MILL?

>> LIKE A MILL.

IT'S CHICKEN NUGGETS GETTING
PRODUCED DOWN A CONVEYOR BELT.

I THINK THE SETTING WAS
CONTROLLED CHAOS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS CORPORATE
OWNERS DICTATED THE WORK TO BE

DONE.

>> I'D LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'D
RECOMMEND IN TERMS OF TREATMENT,

AND IT RUBBED ME THE WRONG WAY.

"INSTEAD OF DOING ONE FILLING,
WE WANT YOU TO GO TO TOWN AND DO

EVERYTHING.

IF NOT EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE
MOUTH, AT LEAST THE ENTIRE LEFT-

HAND SIDE OR THE ENTIRE RIGHT-
HAND SIDE, TOP AND BOTTOM."

IT'S PRETTY AGGRESSIVE
TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR A

LITTLE FIVE- OR SIX-YEAR-OLD.

>> Reporter: DR. GREENWALD SAYS
KOOL SMILES TREATMENTS WEREN'T

JUST AGGRESSIVE, THEY WERE
EXCESSIVE.

HE SAYS DENTISTS REGULARLY
PERFORMED UNNECESSARY TOOTH

EXTRACTIONS AND ROOT CANALS ON
BABY TEETH.

AND THEN, THERE ARE STAINLESS
STEEL CROWNS LIKE THESE WHICH

COST US ABOUT $4 A PIECE.

THEY WERE A HIGH-PROFIT ITEM FOR
KOOL SMILES.

GREENWALD SAYS DENTISTS THERE
PUT WAY TOO MANY OF THEM ON

TEETH THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY FALL
OUT ON THEIR OWN.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKED.

>> YOU HAVE SOME BABY TEETH,
PEDIATRIC TEETH, THAT HAVE JUST

A LITTLE PINHOLE INTO THE
ENAMEL, THE HARD SURFACE OF THE

TOOTH.

>> Reporter: A CAVITY.

>> YEAH, A TEENY LITTLE CAVITY.

AND, ON MEDICAID, A SMALL,
SILVER FILLING, A GENERAL

PRACTICE MIGHT GET REIMBURSED
$35, $45.

BUT ON A METAL CROWN, MAYBE
CLOSE TO $250, $300.

>> Reporter: AND A ROOT CANAL?

>> ADD ANOTHER $150.

SO, EACH TOOTH WENT FROM A $30,
$40 FILLING TO A $500 GAIN.

>> Reporter: EXPECTATIONS: DO AS
MUCH WORK AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE

THE SUITS AT KOOL SMILES ASSUMED
MEDICAID PATIENTS WOULDN'T BE

COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON.

>> THEY'D SAY, "WELL, THIS MAY
BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE OF TREATING

THE CHILD, SO, ACTUALLY, WE'RE
DOING THEM A FAVOR BY

PREEMPTIVELY TREATING THAT TOOTH
BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT SEEK

TREATMENT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FIVE
YEARS."

>> Reporter: UNLIKE DR.
GREENWALD, WHO HAD 30 YEARS OF

DENTISTRY UNDER HIS BELT, KOOL
SMILES RECRUITS WERE MOSTLY

YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED DENTISTS,
RECENT IMMIGRANTS.

DR. RAI WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> I HAD A RECRUITER CALL ME,
AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB AT

THAT TIME.

I WAS STRUGGLING TO FIND A
POSITION.

>> Reporter: AND WHAT DID YOU
LIKE ABOUT THE OFFER?

>> THEY SAID THEY DID NOT NEED
ANY EXPERIENCE, AND THAT THEY

WILL TRAIN US.

IT WAS A DREAM JOB.

>> Reporter: WHAT DID THEY OFFER
YOU AS A STARTING SALARY?

>> THE TOTAL PACKAGE WAS
$180,000.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SMALL,
LITTLE SHOT THERE.

IS THAT OKAY?

>> Reporter: WITH A NEW BABY AT
HOME AND A MOUNTAIN OF STUDENT

DEBT, DR. RAI PACKED HER BAGS
AND SHIPPED OFF TO AMARILLO,

TEXAS.

HOW BIG WERE YOUR STUDENT LOANS
WHEN YOU GOT OUT OF DENTAL

SCHOOL?

>> I HAD AROUND $250,000.

>> Reporter: THAT'S LIKE A
MORTGAGE.

>> YES, MORE THAN THAT.

JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE
TO PRACTICE AND BE ABLE TO

SUPPORT MY FAMILY WAS MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS A DEAL
WITH THE DEVIL.

>> YOU HAVE A REPORT CARD THAT
SHOWS THAT... HOW MUCH YOU'RE

PERFORMING, HOW MUCH PER PATIENT
YOU'RE PRODUCING.

AND YOU KNOWTHE COMPENSATION OF
EACH PROCEDURE.

IT DOESAFFECT THE MEDICAL
JUDGMENT.

>> Reporter: THOSE REPORT CARDS
WERE COLOR-CODED-- GREEN FOR

PRODUCTIVE DENTISTS, RED FOR
THOSE WHO FAILED TO HIT THEIR

NUMBERS.

>> THEY WOULD PUT UP TARGET
SHEETS SAYING, "LAST WEEK, YOU

PRODUCED $5,000 ON MONDAY.

THIS COMING WEEK, WE'D LIKE YOU
TO PRODUCE $6,000."

IF THEY DIDN'T MEET THE NUMBERS,
THEY WERE OUT THE DOOR.

THIS WAS PURELY PRODUCTION.

THIS WAS CHASING A BONUS.

AND...

>> Reporter: "CHASING A BONUS"
BECAUSE THE DENTISTS WERE PAID

ACCORDING TO HOW THEY WORKED?

>> YES.

AND I WAS WATCHING SOME OF THE
DENTISTS GETTING $5,000 TO

$10,000 A MONTH IN PRODUCTION
BONUS.

>> [ BABY CRYING]
>> Reporter: TAKE A LOOK AT

THIS.

KOOL SMILES USED A TYPE OF THESE
SO-CALLED PAPOOSE BOARDS THAT

COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE PHYSICAL
OR PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM.

KOOL SMILES SAYS THEY WERE USED
IN ONLY 1.5% OF CASES, BUT DR.

GREENWALD AND OTHER WHISTLE-
BLOWERS DISAGREE AND SAY KOOL

SMILES USED THEM MUCH MORE THAN
NECESSARY.

>> IMAGINE A BURRITO MADE OF
VELCRO.

IT'S A LONG, NARROW BOARD THAT
HAS FABRIC COMING FROM BOTH

SIDES.

THE CHILD, IN ORDER TO MANAGE
THEM, IS LAID DOWN ON THE BOARD,

AND THE TWO SHEETS OF VELCRO ARE
FOLDED OVER.

AND AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE SORT
OF, LIKE, MUMMIFIED.

>> Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER USED
IT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

NO.

>> Reporter: I HEAR THAT KOOL
SMILES HAD HAIR DRYERS AVAILABLE

IN THEIR TREATMENT ROOMS FOR
PATIENTS.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THEY WOULD
HAVE HAIR DRYERS?

>> SMALL CHILDREN IN A PANIC
STAGE, IT'S NOT UNKNOWN FOR THEM

TO OFTENTIMES URINATE
THEMSELVES.

HAIRDRYER WAS THERE TO DRY THEM
OFF.

>> Reporter: GREENWALD SAYS
WHILE THE USE OF HAIR DRYERS AND

PAPOOSE BOARDS WAS QUESTIONABLE,
HIS BIG FEAR WAS THAT SOMEONE

WOULD REALLY GET HURT.

THE STAKES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
HIGHER.

>> 911, WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF
YOUR EMERGENCY?

>> I'M AT KOOL SMILES.

>> YOU NEED POLICE OR MEDICAL?

>> MEDICAL.

>> Reporter: DR. MICHAEL
GREENWALD SAYS DEMANDS AT KOOL

SMILES WERE DANGEROUS, DENTISTS
TREATING CHILDREN IN ASSEMBLY

LINE FASHION.

>> THE FASTER YOU WORK, THE
SLOPPIER YOU CAN GET, AND YOU

RUN THE RISK OF INJURING THE
CHILD.

MAYBE SLIPPING WITH THE HIGH-
SPEED DRILL, CUTTING THEIR

CHEEK, CUTTING THEIR TONGUE.

>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO ENDING
TO THIS.

I FELT LIKE A SLAVE, AND
HUMILIATED EVERYDAY.

>> Reporter: DR. RAI SAYS KOOL
SMILES REQUIRED ITS NEW

EMPLOYEES TO SIGN AN IRON-CLAD
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT THAT MADE IT

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO
QUIT.

>> IF I BREAK OUT OF MY
CONTRACT, I CAN'T JUST LEAVE

BECAUSE THEY'LL SUE US.

IT'S A HUGE CORPORATION WITH
LAWYERS.

THE INTIMIDATION IS THERE.

WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM $500 A
DAY IF WE LEFT.

>> Reporter: $500 EVERY DAY?

>> EVERY DAY FOR 60 DAYS IF I
DIDN'T GIVE THEM THE NOTICE.

IT'S THE FEAR FACTOR EVERYBODY
FEEDS ON.

>> Reporter: HOW DID THAT AFFECT
YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS?

>> IT'S ALREADY HURT ME AND MY
LOVED ONES, SO I'VE BEEN IN MY

OWN HEALING PHASE RIGHT NOW.

IT HAS AFFECTED PROFOUNDLY.

>> Reporter: DR. RAI FINALLY
BUCKLED UNDER THE PRESSURE TO

HIT HER DAILY QUOTAS.

AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS AT
KOOL SMILES, SHE GAVE HER

NOTICE.

SHE WANTED OUT.

BUT BEFORE THAT TIME WAS UP, DR.
RAI STOOD HER GROUND.

SHE OBJECTED TO THE DECISION TO
CLEAN A CHILD'S TEETH BECAUSE

SHE SAYS HE HAD A SERIOUS
INJURY.

>> HE WAS BIT BY A PIT BULL JUST
A WEEK BEFORE, AND THE CHILD

COULD NOT OPEN THEIR MOUTH.

THIS CHILD HAD STITCHES
EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY, AND I

COULDN'T DO AN EXAM ON THE
CHILD.

AND THEN, I DISMISSED THE
PATIENT.

>> Reporter: DID YOU GET SOME
BLOWBACK FROM KOOL SMILES

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T CONTINUE WITH
TREATING THE PATIENT AND BILLING

FOR IT?

>> YES.

THE HYGIENIST WENT AND
COMPLAINED.

I WAS LET GO ON THAT DAY.

>> Reporter: DR. RAI'S LIFELONG
DREAM TO BE A DENTIST WAS

COLLAPSING.

SHE FELT LIKE A FAILURE.

HER MARRIAGE WAS IMPLODING.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE STRESS
FROM WORKING AT KOOL SMILES

BROKE UP YOUR MARRIAGE?

>> YES.

MOST DEFINITELY.

>> Reporter: NOW A SINGLE MOM
WITHOUT A JOB, DR. RAI WAS IN

SURVIVAL MODE.

SHE FOUND PART-TIME WORK AS A
DENTIST BUT WAS HAUNTED BY THE

MISTREATMENT OF THE KIDS SHE SAW
AT KOOL SMILES.

>> I WAS NOT HAPPY.

I USED TO BE A VERY PATIENT
PERSON.

I WOULD NOT SNAP.

I STARTED SNAPPING.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS DETERMINED
TO TAKE ACTION AND TURNED TO A

LAWYER FOR HELP.

ATTORNEY DAN MILLER TOLD HER SHE
HAD A STRONG CASE AS A

WHISTLEBLOWER.

IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, WHAT IS A
WHISTLEBLOWER SUIT?

>> WHISTLEBLOWER SUIT IS A
MATTER IN WHICH A PERSON WHO HAS

INSIDE INFORMATION ABOUT A FRAUD
COMES FORWARD AND ON BEHALF OF

THE GOVERNMENT, AND THEY SEEK TO
GET THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY BACK

BY SUING THE FRAUDSTER.

>> Reporter: GIVE ME THE SPIEL
THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO A CLIENT

WHO IS A PROSPECTIVE
WHISTLEBLOWER WITH YOU.

>> WE WOULD CAUTION THE PERSON
OF THE RISKS OF BEING A

WHISTLEBLOWER.

IT CAN COST THEM THEIR CAREER.

IT'S VERYSTRESSFUL.

AND THE WHISTLEBLOWER, THEY CAN
BE SUED BY THEIR EX-EMPLOYER.

>> Reporter: DR. RAI STILL HAD
STUDENT LOANS AND KNEW THAT

STANDING UP TO A MULTIMILLION-
DOLLAR CORPORATION LIKE KOOL

SMILES COULD END HER CAREER.

BUT SHE WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE
RISK.

>> THE CORPORATE DENTISTS, THEY
MAY SEE YOU AS A TRAITOR.

YOU MAY LOSE FRIENDS FOR NOT
SHARING THIS INFORMATION.

ONCE THIS EXPERIENCE HAS
HAPPENED, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE

IT WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR
LIFE.

IT IS GOING TO CHANGE YOU.

IT IS GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
ABOUT YOU.

SO, EITHER YOU CAN DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT OR YOU CAN KEEP THE

EXPERIENCE WITHIN YOURSELF.

YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE IF YOU
COME FORWARD.

>> Reporter: BY THE TIME DR. RAI
FILED HER WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT

IN TEXAS, DR. GREENWALD HAD
ALREADY GATHERED THE GOODS ON

KOOL SMILES.

>> THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY.

I COULD LOOK AT MY COWORKER'S
PATIENT'S X-RAYS AND CHARTS.

I COULD ALSO DIGITALLY TRAVEL TO
OTHER OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE

OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I JUST STARTED BRINGING UP THE
CHARTS OF SOME OF MY CO-WORKERS.

>> Reporter: HE HAD SECRETLY
BECOME A DENTAL DETECTIVE,

KNOWING HE COULD BE FIRED OR
SUED.

SO, FOR SIX MONTHS, YOU
BASICALLY WERE WORKING

UNDERCOVER, SO TO SPEAK, TO
BUILD YOUR WHISTLEBLOWER CASE?

>> I WANTED TO STOP THIS.

IT WAS INSANE.

PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE.

YOU'RE STEALING MONEY FROM EVERY
TAXPAYER IN THIS COUNTRY BY

COMMITTING FRAUD.

ADD TO THAT, YOU'RE PICKING ON
FIVE-YEAR-OLDS?

>> Reporter: GREENWALD'S
ATTORNEY FILED THIS 42-PAGE

COMPLAINT ALLEGING MEDICAID
FRAUD.

TWO MONTHS LATER, THE DENTIST
EAGERLY MET WITH FEDERAL AGENTS

TO SHARE THE EVIDENCE HE'D
COLLECTED.

>> THEY TOOK OVER THE CASE THAT
I HAD PRESENTED AND DECIDED TO

MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AS THEY
FELT IT WAS JUSTIFIED.

I DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED SOME
RECORDS OF NAMES, DATES, TIMES,

PROCEDURES.

>> Reporter: SHOWING THAT
PROCEDURES WERE DONE THAT MAYBE

WEREN'T WARRANTED, SHOWING THE
CULTURE AT KOOL SMILES THAT WAS

PRODUCE, PRODUCE, PRODUCE?

>> YES.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BASE THIS ON
JUST PURE HEARSAY.

I WANTED TO SAY, "LOOK AT THIS
DATE, LOOK AT THIS OFFICE."

I STARTED PULLING UP RECORD
NAMES FROM NEW MEXICO AND

ARIZONA AND MARYLAND AND
VIRGINIA AND TEXAS AND GEORGIA.

AND I REALIZED, "OH, MY GOD,
THIS IS PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT THE

ENTIRE SYSTEM."

>> Reporter: ON DECEMBER 16,
2017, DR. GREENWALD'S WORST

NIGHTMARE CAME TRUE.

THAT'S THE DAY JOSEPH GASTELUM
AND VERONICA DE LOS REYES TOOK

THEIR SON, ZION, TO A KOOL
SMILES CLINIC IN YUMA, ARIZONA.

HE WAS JUST TWO YEARS OLD.

>> ZION, HE'S... HE'S PERFECT.

SAY THANKS!

HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

HE'S SO HANDSOME.

A REAL HANDSOME BABY!

HE WENT FOR CLEANINGS AND
CHECKUPS TWICE.

THEY SAID HIS TWO FRONT TEETH
WERE, LIKE, GETTING BAD, SO THAT

HE NEEDED TO GET THEM CROWNED.

YOU COULD KIND OF SEE IT.

>> THEY WANTED TO PREVENT IT
FROM GETTING WORSE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, OF COURSE, WE WANT THE
BEST FOR HIM, SO WE SAID, "OKAY,

LET'S DO IT."

>> SO, HE WAS KIND OF SCARED,
BUT I TOLD HIM HE WAS GOING TO

BE OKAY.

>> Reporter: VERONICA SAYS THE
ANESTHESIOLOGIST PUT A MASK ON

ZION.

>> HE FELL ASLEEP.

AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO HOOK HIM UP AND GET HIM

READY TO DO THE WORK, SO TO GIVE
HIM A KISS AND TO GO WAIT IN THE

WAITING ROOM.

[ CRYING]
IT ACTUALLY WAS, LIKE, AN HOUR

BEFORE THEY CALLED ME, AND
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT

HIM.

AND I NOTICED THAT HIS CHEST
WASN'T MOVING, LIKE TO BREATHE.

>> 911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

>> I AM AT KOOL SMILES.

WE HAVE A CHILD THAT... HE'S
NOT... NOT RESPONSIVE.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO POLICE
REPORTS, AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST

ATTEMPTED TO REVIVE ZION, BUT
COULDN'T.

>> AND HE NEVER CAME OUT OF THAT
PLACE OKAY.

HE NEVER WOKE UP.

>> Reporter: KOOL SMILES
DENTISTS WORKED ON MUCH MORE

THAN ZION GASTELUM'S TWO FRONT
TEETH.

IN THE END, HE HAD SIX STAINLESS
STEEL CROWNS AND THREE BABY ROOT

CANALS.

ZION GASTELUM WAS DEAD, BUT KOOL
SMILES STILL SENT MEDICAID A

BILL FOR $2,604.

>> THEY'RE JUST MONEY HUNGRY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP YOU.

THEY WANT TO HELP THEMSELVES.

>> EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT
THEY DID TO OUR SON SO IT

DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO WATCH MY
SON.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE
OF HIM, AND THEY DIDN'T.

AND NOW HE'S GONE, AND HE WAS
ONLY TWO.

[ CRYING]
>> Reporter: THE AUTOPSY REPORT

CLASSIFIED THE CAUSE AND MANNER
OF ZION'S DEATH AS UNDETERMINED.

HIS HEARTBROKEN PARENTS INTEND
TO SUE KOOL SMILES.

IN A STATEMENT TO CBS, KOOL
SMILES WROTE:

IN A STATEMENT TO CBS, KOOL
SMILES WROTE:

DR. RAI AND DR. GREENWALD'S
WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUITS WERE

FILED BEFORE ZION'S DEATH.

SIX OTHER KOOL SMILES EMPLOYEES,
CONCERNED FOR CHILDREN'S SAFETY,

ALSO BLEW THE WHISTLE.

THEY WERE IN IT FOR THE LONG
HAUL.

>> I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO
FOLLOW MY CONSCIENCE AND FOLLOW

THE TRUTH, WHATEVER PRICE IT MAY
BE.

>> THEIR BIGGEST MISTAKE
WAS HIRING ME.

>> Reporter: I'M ALEX FERRER.

THIS IS "WHISTLEBLOWER."

DR. RAI SPENT YEARS WORKING AS A
PART-TIME DENTIST IN TEXAS AS

SHE STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

DR. GREENWALD WENT BACK INTO
PRIVATE PRACTICE.

NEITHER DENTIST HAD ANY REGRETS
ABOUT TAKING ON KOOL SMILES.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN.

JUST THE MACHINE OF THE FEDERAL
SYSTEM CONFUSED ME.

THESE PEOPLE PUT EVERYTHING INTO
IT-- THOUSANDS OF MAN HOURS,

MILLIONS OF PAGES OF
DOCUMENTATION.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE WHISTLEBLOWERS
HAD NO IDEA IF THEY WOULD GET

ANYTHING AT ALL FROM THEIR
LAWSUITS UNTIL 2018.

NEARLY TEN YEARS AFTER THE CASE
BEGAN, THEIR WAIT WAS FINALLY

OVER.

KOOL SMILES SETTLED, AGREEING TO
PAY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT $24

MILLION FOR ALLEGED MEDICAID
FRAUD.

DR. RAI, DR. GREENWALD AND THE
SIX WHISTLEBLOWERS SPLIT

$4 MILLION OF THAT.

KOOL SMILES PAID THE MONEY, BUT
ADMITTED NO WRONGDOING.

>> "WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG,
BUT HERE'S $24 MILLION."

PLEASE.

YOU'RE JUST NOT ADMITTING TO IT,
THAT'S ALL.

>> Reporter: THIS DEVOTED
DENTIST WHO GREW UP IN INDIA IS

NOW LIVING IN A REMOTE PART OF
ALASKA, PRACTICING HER PASSION.

SHE IS CONTENT NOW, RAISING HER
DAUGHTER A WORLD AWAY FROM THAT

KOOL SMILES CLINIC IN AMARILLO,
TEXAS.

>> MY LIFE NOW IS VERY PEACEFUL.

RURAL ALASKA HERE, LIFE IS SLOW.

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THAT MUCH
PRESSURE.

>> Reporter: SHE IS HAPPY AT HER
NEW JOB, WORKING IN A NATIVE

AMERICAN HEALTH CLINIC.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

WE SEE OUR PATIENTS AND GIVE
THEM THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE

THAT WE CAN WITHOUT ANY CONFLICT
OF INTEREST.

THERE'S NO BONUS SYSTEMS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO GET HERE.

THERE'S NO NUMBERS I NEED TO
HIT.

>> I DID SOMETHING GOOD.

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO TRY THAT.

MY DAUGHTER'S NOT GOING TO, IN
ANOTHER 30 YEARS, LOOK AT HER

CHILDREN AND SAY, "YEAH, YOU'RE
GRANDPA WAS A DENTIST."

SHE'S GOING TO SAY, "YOUR
GRANDPA DID SOMETHING GOOD."

I'M PROUD.

>> Reporter: AND IF GIVEN A
CHOICE, DR. GREENWALD SAYS HE

WOULD BLOW THE WHISTLE ALL OVER
AGAIN.

>> WAS IT WORTH IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

DID I WANT TO SEE THEM PUNISH
KOOL SMILES?

YES.

DID I WANT TO SEE THEM SHUT DOWN
KOOL SMILES?

NO.

>> Reporter: WHY NOT?

>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DENTISTS
OUT THERE THAT WILL TREAT

MEDICAID.

IT'S 120 OFFICES, TIMES HOW MANY
CHILDREN EACH ONE SEES.

YOU ARE REMOVING ACCESS.

SO, DO YOU DESTROY ACCESS TO
CARE FOR THE SAKE OF PUNISHING A

COMPANY?

NO.

>> Reporter: WE REPEATEDLY ASKED
KOOL SMILES FOR AN ON-CAMERA

INTERVIEW, BUT THE COMPANY NEVER
AGREED TO ONE.

IN A STATEMENT, KOOL SMILES
WROTE:

IN A STATEMENT, KOOL SMILES
WROTE:

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
OWNERS OF KOOL SMILES?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO STOP.

SOME PEOPLE ARE CHEERING THE
YANKEES; I'M CHEERING THE... THE

FEDS FOR NAILING THIS PERSON FOR
FRAUD AND NAILING THAT ONE.

AND I'M REALIZING, "OH, MY GOD,
IT'S LIKE IF I COULD HAVE A

CAREER CHANGE TOMORROW, I'D GO
TO WORK FOR THEM."

I WANT TO CATCH THE BAD GUYS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DID.

>> Reporter: SOME WHISTLEBLOWER
CASES INVOLVE HUNDREDS OF

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHEN YOUR DOCTOR PRESCRIBES A
DRUG, IS IT BASED ON WHAT'S BEST

FOR YOUR HEALTH?

OR HAS THE DOCTOR'S DECISION
BEEN INFLUENCED BY KICKBACKS

FROM A DRUG COMPANY?

MYCHAL WILSON WAS A YOUNG,
AMBITIOUS PHARMACEUTICAL SALES

REP FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> WALKING TO SOCCER PRACTICE,
PASSING THE UNITED STATES

SUPREME COURT BUILDING,
YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS SEE THE

WORDS: EQUALITY, JUSTICE.

>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T IMAGINE
HIMSELF A SALESMAN WHEN HE FIRST

MOVED TO LOS ANGELES IN THE
EARLY '90s.

HE WAS JUST ONE MORE ASPIRING
ACTOR.

>> I WAS IN SOME TV ROLES LIKE
HOWARD STERN, "SON OF THE

BEACH."

>> OKAY, CHAD, HOW !¡BOUT BUFFY?

[ LAUGHTER]
>> Reporter: WERE YOU ABLE TO

SUPPORT YOURSELF ON ACTING?

>> UH, NO.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY HE TOOK
A JOB IN PHARMA SALES.

>> I SOLD SKIN MEDICINES.

I SOLD EYE DROPS FOR BACTERIAL
CONJUNCTIVITIS.

AND THEN, THE V.E.D., WHICH IS
KNOWN AS THE VACUUM ERECTION

DEVICE.

>> Reporter: I'M SORRY?

>> THE V.E.D., VACUUM ERECTION
DEVICE.

>> Reporter: VACUUM ERECTION.

>> SO, THIS IS PRE-VIAGRA.

[ LAUGHS]
>> Reporter: WHAT IS A VACUUM

ERECTION DEVICE?

>> [ LAUGHS]
I HAVE ONE BACK THERE.

I CAN BRING IT FOR SHOW AND
TELL, IF YOU WANT.

>> Reporter: I'D RATHER YOU
DIDN'T, BUT...

[ LAUGHS]
I'M CUR... I'M... I'M HALF

SCARED TO ASK YOU THE PITCH AND
CURIOUS ON THE OTHER HAND.

SELL A LOT OF THESE?

>> YEAH, I DID, ACTUALLY.

>> Reporter: HE WAS SO GOOD AT
HIS NEW ROLE, IN 1998, HE LANDED

A JOB WITH A GIANT: BRISTOL-
MYERS SQUIBB.

IT WAS GOOD MONEY COMPARED TO
ACTING-- AROUND 40 GRAND PLUS

PERKS TO START.

HIS SPECIALTY: MARKETING
POWERFUL DRUGS THAT NETTED THE

COMPANY BILLIONS.

>> THERE WAS GLUCOPHAGE.

IT'S FOR TYPE-TWO DIABETES.

THEN, THERE WAS PRAVACHOL, WHICH
IS A CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG.

>> Reporter: WILSON SHOWED US
WHERE HE PLIED HIS TRADE.

SO, THIS IS CEDARS?

>> THEWORLD FAMOUS CEDARS,
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER.

>> Reporter: DID BRISTOL-MYERS
SQUIBB TRAIN YOU ON HOW TO TALK

TO DOCTORS IN... IN PITCHING
THEIR DRUGS?

>> OH, YES.

COMPLETELY.

THERE'S A LARGE TRAINING CLASS.

YOU WERE TRAINED ON THE DRUGS,
THE DISEASE STATE, THE SALES,

THE MESSAGING.

AND THEN, AFTER THAT, ALSO WHAT
TO DO WHEN YOU GOT OUT IN THE

FIELD.

YOU PRESENT THE INFORMATION TO
THE PHYSICIAN.

MAYBE YOU'RE DOING SOME LUNCHES.

YOU COULD TAKE THEM TO A LAKERS
GAME, A KINGS GAME.

>> Reporter: WILSON WAS EXPECTED
TO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF

DOLLARS A YEAR TO INFLUENCE
DOCTORS.

IT WAS A SWEET GIG, AT FIRST.

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU DROP FOR
THESE DOCTORS, ENTERTAINING

THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'D DIVIDE UP THE
COST AMONGST MANAGERS AND OTHER

REPS.

SO, SAY, ON MY EXPENSE REPORT,
IT MAY ONLY SHOW FOUR OR FIVE

GRAND, BUT THE TOTAL EVENT MAY
EVEN BE, LIKE, $15,000 OR

$20,000 TO WINE AND DINE THESE
PHYSICIANS.

>> Reporter: FOR A DINNER.

>> FOR A DINNER, YEAH.

>> Reporter: ONE YEAR INTO HIS
JOB, THINGS STARTED TO SHIFT

WHEN WILSON TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A
GENEROUS COMPANY EDUCATION

BENEFIT, ENROLLING IN LAW SCHOOL
AT NIGHT.

>> MY MANAGERS WOULD GET MAD AT
ME BECAUSE IT'S "YOU'VE GOT TO

DO A DINNER PROGRAM AT SPAGO OR
A.O.C.," OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: WINE AND DINE THE
DOCTORS.

>> YES.

AND "YOU AREN'T DOING YOUR JOB.

WHY WEREN'T YOU AT THE LAKERS
GAME LAST NIGHT?

WE HAD THE BOX SUITES."

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE ALL THE STARS
UP THERE, LIKE ICE CUBE AND

EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, I BECAME A BAD GUY.

MY PARENTS WERE MIDDLE CLASS
PARENTS, MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY,

AND THEY SPENT THEIR MONEY ON
PRIVATE EDUCATIONS FOR THEIR

SONS.

SO, I WAS LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY.

I'M GOING TO LAW SCHOOL."

AND I WAS KIND OF BASICALLY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?

I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE
FIRST ATTORNEY IN MY FAMILY, YOU

KNOW.

AND BEING A BLACK AMERICAN,
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

>> Reporter: AS WILSON LEARNED
MORE ABOUT THE LAW, HE STARTED

TO WONDER IF THE COMPANY WAS
ASKING HIM TO DO SOMETHING

WRONG.

UNLIKE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, THE
FEDERAL ANTI-KICKBACK STATUTE

PROHIBITS REWARDING DOCTORS IN
ORDER TO GET THEM TO PRESCRIBE

SPECIFIC DRUGS TO MEDICARE OR
MEDICAID PATIENTS.

WILSON FELT UNEASY, BUT HE
NEEDED THE JOB.

>> YOU WERE TO TARGET AND SPEND
THE MONEY ON HIGH PRESCRIBERS.

YOU WOULD FIND CERTAIN DOCTORS
WHO YOU KNEW WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO

PERKS OR SWAG, WHATEVER YOU WANT
TO CALL IT.

>> Reporter: LAVISH MEALS,
EXPENSIVE BOOZE AND CIGARS, GOLF

OUTINGS, CONCERT TICKETS,
SWEDISH MASSAGES, EVEN CASH

PAYMENTS.

>> PAY TO PRESCRIBE.

PAY FOR PLAY.

A QUID PRO QUO.

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PUT IT,
IT'S A BRIBE.

>> Reporter: AND THE PERKS
WEREN'T JUST FOR DOCTORS; WILSON

SAYS HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO CATER
LUNCHES FOR THEIR ENTIRE MEDICAL

OFFICE, EVEN BUY THEM BIRTHDAY
GIFTS.

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS, YOU
COULD GET INTO THE OFFICE PAST

THE NURSES AND THE OFFICE STAFF,
AND GET INTO THE FILE CABINETS.

>> Reporter: BY "FILE CABINETS,"
MYCHAL WILSON MEANS PATIENT

RECORDS.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, THOSE
RECORDS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE

CONFIDENTIAL.

BUT WILSON SAYS SALES REPS
ENCOURAGED DOCTORS TO GIVE THEM

ACCESS TO PATIENT FILES SO THEY
COULD REVIEW THOSE FILES AND

FLAG PATIENTS THE SALES REPS
SAID COULD BENEFIT FROM CERTAIN

B.M.S. DRUGS.

DID IT START BOTHERING YOU AT
SOME POINT THAT THESE PATIENTS

WERE GETTING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR
THEIR MEDICAL CARE NOT BECAUSE

THE DOCTOR THOUGHT IT WAS THE
BEST PRESCRIPTION FOR THEM BUT

BECAUSE, AS YOU SAY, THE DOCTOR
WAS BEING BRIBED BY THE

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY TO WRITE
THIS PARTICULAR SCRIPT?

>> YES.

I MEAN, IT BOTHERED ME A LOT.

YOU'RE HURTING A PATIENT.

IT'S COMPLETELY WRONG TO PULL
PATIENT CHARTS.

IT'S COMPLETELY WRONG TO PUT
THESE... SOME OF THESE PATIENTS

ON MEDICATIONS WHICH YOU KNEW
THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON OR

THAT THE COMPETITORS' DRUGS
ACTUALLY MAY BE BETTER FOR THE

PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: RIGHT.

>> THESE ARE THE... THE BACK
STAIRS THAT WE USED TO TAKE OVER

HERE FROM FLOOR TO FLOOR, DOCTOR
TO DOCTOR, FILE CABINET TO FILE

CABINET TO GET THOSE PATIENT
CHARTS.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE DOCTORS
WILSON USED TO CALL ON IS

CEDARS-SINAI CARDIOLOGIST DR.
RICO SIMONINI.

HE LIKED WILSON, BUT NOT HIS
PITCHES.

>> THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS YOU
COULD LEARN ABOUT A DRUG.

AND THE WORST WAY TO LEARN ABOUT
A DRUG IS BY A REP WHO'S TRYING

TO SELL YOU ONE AND SHOWING YOU
DATA THAT'S BEEN CHERRY-PICKED

FOR YOU TO LOOK AT BY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO SELL IT TO

YOU.

>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS SOME OF
HIS COLLEAGUES DIDFALL PREY TO

THE ILLICIT PERSUASION
TECHNIQUES.

>> THEY SEEM TO FORGET THAT
HIPPOCRATIC OATH THAT WE ALL

TAKE, AND... AND, YEAH, THEY GET
CORRUPTED BY THE MONEY.

>> Reporter: FOUR YEARS INTO HIS
JOB, WILSON BECAME CONVINCED

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB WAS
BREAKING THE LAW.

CONCERNED FOR PATIENTS' SAFETY,
HE COMPLAINED TO MANAGEMENT.

THEY DID NOTHING, HE SAYS, BUT
ASSIGN HIM A TOUGH NEW

SUPERVISOR.

>> SHE WAS A COMPLETE
MICROMANAGER.

AND SHE TOTALLY, YOU KNOW, WAS
DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING I WAS

DOING.

I ALWAYS LEARNED THAT WHEN
SOMEONE'S DOCUMENTING YOU, YOU

SHOULD DOCUMENT THEM.

>> Reporter: WILSON KNEW HE HAD
A GOOD JOB, BUT HE FELT

COMPELLED TO EXPOSE THE FRAUD.

>> MY POD MATES AND STUFF ARE
SAYING, "YOU KNOW, THIS... YOU

KNOW, THIS MANAGER SAID, 'STAY
AWAY FROM HIM, HE'S BAD NEWS.'"

OKAY?

OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IS, I'D HAVE PEOPLE COME UP TO

ME AT REGIONAL SALES MEETINGS
AND TAKE ME ASIDE AND SAY, "HEY,

DON'T... DON'T MESS IT UP FOR
EVERYBODY."

>> Reporter: BELIEVING HIS DAYS
IN THE JOB WERE NUMBERED, WILSON

STARTED HIS OWN UNDERCOVER
OPERATION...

>> I SAVED DOCUMENTS, AND I KEPT
THEM AT MY APARTMENT AND IN MY

STORAGE UNIT.

LUXURY SKY BOX.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> Reporter: ...COLLECTING HIGH-
TICKET RECEIPTS...

>> CHARGERS VS. CLEVELAND.

>> Reporter: ...MAKING COPIES IN
DOCTOR'S OFFICES...

>> LAKERS, CLIPPERS, $8,000.

>> Reporter: ...STASHING AWAY
ALL THE PAPERWORK HE COULD.

>> THIS IS THE ADVANCE REPORT,
THE CAREER MANAGEMENT TOOL WHERE

WE ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED ALL THE
FRAUD, ALL THE KICKBACKS WE WERE

GIVING TO PHYSICIANS.

>> Reporter: HE KNEW IT COULD
ALL BE VALUABLE EVIDENCE.

>> THE COMPANY DID EVERYTHING
TO... TO TRY TO TERMINATE ME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS THE NUMBER-
THREE REP IN THE NATION FOR, YOU

KNOW, ONE OF ITS DRUGS: PLAVIX.

>> Reporter: MYCHAL WILSON SAYS
HE WAS HARASSED, INTIMIDATED,

ACCUSED OF INSUBORDINATION.

IN SEPTEMBER 2004, BRISTOL-MYERS
SQUIBB FIRED HIM FOR WHAT HE

SAYS WAS A COMMON PAPERWORK
ERROR.

YOU NEVER GOT ANYTHING AFTER YOU
WERE FIRED?

>> NO, AND THEN THEY TRIED TO
DENY MY UNEMPLOYMENT, AS WELL.

>> Reporter: AS CONFIDENT A
SALESMAN AS WILSON WAS, IT

PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A JOB
IN PHARMA SALES.

HE SAYS HE WAS BLACKBALLED.

>> I WENT ON INTERVIEWS, AND I
WOULD GET TO THE THIRD AND

FOURTH INTERVIEW OF A NEW JOB, A
MEDICAL DEVICE JOB OR A PHARMA

JOB.

THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I
REALIZED I DIDN'T GET THE JOB.

>> Reporter: HE WAS FORCED TO
BORROW MONEY FROM HIS PARENTS,

THE VERY PEOPLE WHO RAISED HIM
TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT.

>> I COULDN'T LIVE OFF CREDIT
CARDS BECAUSE AFTER, YOU KNOW, A

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'RE
UNEMPLOYED, YOU CAN'T PAY THE

BILL, YOU GET SHUT OFF, INTEREST
COMPOUNDS, AND THEN YOU START

GETTING THE CALL-- 8:00 ON A
SATURDAY MORNING, 8:01 ON A

SATURDAY MORNING-- THE
COLLECTIONS CALL.

SO, IT WAS PRETTY... IT WAS
PRETTY TOUGH.

>> Reporter: STILL STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET, WILSON MANAGED

TO PASS THE CALIFORNIA BAR EXAM.

HE STARTED PRACTICING
ENTERTAINMENT LAW.

THAT SAME YEAR, HE MET HIS
FUTURE WIFE, SIMONE RODMAN.

>> OKAY, SIMONE'S GREAT.

SO, SHE, AT THE TIME, WAS
WORKING FOR LEONARD NIMOY, THE

ACTOR.

AND I MET... I MET HER AND, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE

OUR FIRST DATE.

>> Reporter: TRYING TO START A
NEW LAW CAREER WHILE BURIED

UNDER A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT, MYCHAL
WILSON FACED A GUT-WRENCHING

DECISION: SHOULD HE ALSO TRY TO
TAKE ON THIS GIANT CORPORATION?

>> IF THERE AREN'T
WHISTLEBLOWERS, THE FRAUD WILL

CONTINUE AND CONTINUE.

>> Reporter: HE KNEW IT WOULD BE
AN UPHILL BATTLE TO TAKE ON

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB, BUT WILSON
WAS READY TO BLOW THE WHISTLE.

HE TURNED TO THE LAW FIRM OF
WATERS, KRAUS AND PAUL.

>> WE THOUGHT MYCHAL'S CASE WAS
OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPELLING, BUT,

LIKE ALL WHISTLEBLOWER CASES,
THERE'S NO GUARANTEES THAT THIS

CASE IS EVEN GOING TO GO
ANYWHERE.

THERE'S NOTHING EASY ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: IN SEPTEMBER 2006,
WILSON'S LAWYERS FILED A FEDERAL

SUIT ALLEGING THAT BRISTOL-MYERS
SQUIBB ENGAGED IN FRAUDULENT AND

ILLEGAL PRACTICES.

THE LAWSUIT LAID OUT HOW SALES
REPS TARGETED HIGH PRESCRIBING

PHYSICIANS BY OFFERING HIGH-
PRICED PERKS.

>> THE ESSENCE OF THE CASE WAS
THAT THE PRESCRIPTIONS HAD

BEEN... BEEN WRITTEN AS A RESULT
OF THESE INDUCEMENTS AND THEN

WERE SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS

MEDICARE.

>> Reporter: IN PLAIN ENGLISH,
THE LAWSUIT ALLEGED THAT B.M.S.

DEFRAUDED THE GOVERNMENT BY
PAYING ILLEGAL KICKBACKS TO

DOCTORS.

>> WHEN SOMEONE IS DOING
SOMETHING FOR YOU, YOU'RE GOING

TO DO SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR
THAT.

>> Reporter: ONE INDUCEMENT WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH A FAMOUS

CALIFORNIA NAME: LUCIUS ALLEN,
WHO ONCE PLAYED FOR THE L.A.

LAKERS.

HE AND HIS WIFE, EVE, WORKED
WITH WILSON, MARKETING DRUGS FOR

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB.

>> LUCIUS AND EVE WERE KIND OF
THE CONDUITS TO THE STAPLES

CENTER, TO THE LAKERS, TO THE
SUITES.

THE COMPANY KNEW THAT.

EVERYONE KNEW THAT.

THE DOCTORS KNEW THAT.

SO, THE LAKERS' DREAM CAMPS WAS
SOMETHING THAT WAS CREATED BY

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB.

THE DOCTORS COME, THEIR FAMILIES
COME, AND THEY CAN DO DRILLS

WITH THE LAKERS.

THEY CAN PLAY WITH THEM.

>> Reporter: WILSON KNEW THAT AS
A WHISTLEBLOWER, THERE WAS A

CHANCE HE COULD GET 15% TO 25%
OF ANY MONEY THE GOVERNMENT

RECOVERED.

THERE WERE, HOWEVER, OTHER
WHISTLEBLOWERS WITH WHOM HE

MIGHT HAVE TO SPLIT THE REWARD.

>> BUT THE KEY THING IS, I HAD
THE GREAT MATERIAL EVIDENCE.

HOLLYWOOD BOWL, L.A.

PHILHARMONIC.

THIS IS ARROWHEAD POND.

>> Reporter: YOU HAD DONE THE
WORK.

>> I HAD DONE THE WORK.

I HAD THE CHECKS, I HAD THE
RECEIPTS, ALL THE... THE

ILLEGAL, YOU KNOW, INDUCEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, COPIES OF EVERYTHING.

ALL I REMEMBER IS BRINGING THEM
TO MY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND

MAYBE THERE WERE, LIKE, 14, 15
BANKER BOXES.

BUT I THINK, AT ONE POINT, I
HEARD SOMETHING LIKE 40,000

PAGES OF DOCUMENTS.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE FEDERAL
SUIT WAS PENDING, MYCHAL WILSON

FILED A SECOND SUIT, THIS TIME
UNDER STATE WHISTLEBLOWER LAW IN

CALIFORNIA.

WHAT WAS YOUR GOAL IN FILING
THAT SECOND LAWSUIT?

>> SO, THE GOAL IN THE SECOND
LAWSUIT WAS TO HOLD B.M.S.

ACCOUNTABLE FOR FRAUD ON... ON
BEHALF OF THE PRIVATE INSURERS

IN CALIFORNIA AND STILL BRING
ABOUT JUSTICE.

>> WE THOUGHT IT WAS A RIGHTEOUS
CASE.

WELL, WE REALLY BELIEVED IN
MYCHAL, AND WE... WE BELIEVED IN

THE... THE FACTS THAT HE WAS
REPORTING.

AND WE HAD ADDITIONAL WITNESSES
WHO WERE GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT

HE WAS SAYING.

>> Reporter: THOSE WITNESSES?

NONE OTHER THAN FORMER L.A.

LAKER LUCIUS ALLEN AND HIS WIFE,
EVE.

>> THEY HAD PHOTOGRAPHS OF
LAKERS AND DOCTORS AND THEIR

FAMILIES TOGETHER.

THEY HAD ACTUAL CHECKS, "THANK
YOU" LETTERS, FOR THEIR

CONSULTING GIGS.

>> MYCHAL NEVER DOUBTED HIMSELF
IN TAKING ON A MAJOR

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY.

I THINK THAT HE... HE FEELS SO
STRONGLY ABOUT WHAT HE DOES, AND

I THINK HE REALLY DOES IDENTIFY
WITH THE DAVID CHARACTER.

YOU KNOW, THE UNDERDOG.

>> Reporter: FOR MYCHAL WILSON
AND HIS GROWING FAMILY, HIS

DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH BATTLE WAS
WORTH PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE

LINE.

>> I BECAME SO PARANOID THAT I
STARTED CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD

OF MY CAR.

>> Reporter: HOW WOULD IT END?

>> I SPOKE OUT, I WAS
TERMINATED.

>> Reporter: MYCHAL WILSON HAD A
LOT RIDING ON THE WHISTLEBLOWER

LAWSUITS.

HE COULD GET A LIFE-CHANGING
REWARD, OR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S EASY
MONEY FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS TO

BRING THESE CASES.

IT'S A FARCE BECAUSE OF WHAT
WHISTLEBLOWERS LIKE MYCHAL GO

THROUGH.

THEY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN A
CASE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, WITH

NO GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO
LEAD ANYWHERE AT THE END OF THE

DAY.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL CASE
ENDED WITH A SHOCKER.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB SETTLED

IN JUST A YEAR.

THE COMPANY ADMITTED NO
WRONGDOING, BUT PAID A

STAGGERING SUM TO RESOLVE
ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING DRUG

MARKETING AND PRICING.

>> MY ATTORNEYS CALLED ME, AND
THEY SAID, LIKE, "THE D.O.J.

JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THERE'S A
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR

$515 MILLION."

>> Reporter: HALF A BILLION
DOLLARS?

>> YES.

>> Reporter: WILSON'S
PERSISTENCE PAID OFF.

>> SO, I DID... I DID GET A
PORTION OF THE AWARD.

I CAN SAY IT WAS A MULTIMILLION-
DOLLAR AWARD.

>> Reporter: AS WILSON SET ABOUT
BUILDING HIS LAW PRACTICE, HIS

CALIFORNIA CASE LANGUISHED FOR
NINE LONG YEARS.

>> FOR A LAW FIRM TO EXPEND THE
TIME, EFFORT AND RESOURCES, YOU

HAVE TO BE PRETTY, YOU KNOW,
CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO

GET A GOOD RESULT AT THE END.

>> Reporter: HOW ABOUT
$30 MILLION?

THAT'S WHAT BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB
AGREED TO PAY IN THE STATE CASE

IN 2016, AGAIN WITHOUT ADMITTING
ANY WRONGDOING.

ABOUT HALF OF THE SETTLEMENT
WENT TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA;

THE REST WENT TO MYCHAL WILSON
AND THE OTHER WHISTLEBLOWERS.

>> GIVEN WHAT MYCHAL HAD BEEN
THROUGH AND OUR OWN FIRM IN

JUST... IN LITIGATING THE CASE
ALL THAT TIME, IT WAS A GREAT

DAY.

>> Reporter: BRISTOL-MYERS
SQUIBB DECLINED AN ON-CAMERA

INTERVIEW BUT GAVE US A
STATEMENT SAYING, IN PART:

>> Reporter: MYCHAL WILSON
BELIEVES HE MADE A DIFFERENCE

FOR PATIENTS.

>> MOST WHISTLEBLOWERS FEEL THEY
HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND

A LOT OF THAT INVOLVES BRINGING
ABOUT A SENSE OF JUSTICE.

>> Reporter: IF HIS EXPERIENCE
AS A WHISTLEBLOWER TAUGHT HIM

ANYTHING, IT WAS HOW TO BE A
WHISTLEBLOWER LAWYER.

>> EXACTLY.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO, IT WAS GREAT THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE KNOW THE PLAYBOOK NOW IN

TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, RETALIATION
AGAINST THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE

COMPANIES, SO...

I'M PROBABLY THE... ONE OF THE
ONLY ONES OUT THERE WHO MAY BE

BOTH THE WHISTLEBLOWER AND THE
WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY.

I... I... I KNOW THEIR ANXIETY.

I KNOW THEIR FEELING OF BEING
SECLUDED.

>> Reporter: WILSON HAS BECOME A
VERY PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR

WHISTLEBLOWERS EVERYWHERE.

HE'S EVEN GOT HIS OWN
WHISTLEBLOWER SHOW.

>> "RAD TV."

THE REASON WHY I DID MY OWN SHOW
WAS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT

REALLY GOES ON AND TO GIVE
SOMETHING BACK TO SOMEONE WHO,

SAY, IS HAVING THE SAME
EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD BUT

DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY MAY SEE THE
SHOW, THEY MAY SEE SOME OTHER

VICTIM OR WHISTLEBLOWER, AND
SAY, "HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CAN DO THAT," AND, YOU KNOW,
BRING ABOUT JUSTICE ULTIMATELY.

GOOD GAME.

MY SON WAS KIND OF LIKE, HE HAD
CERTAIN QUESTIONS LIKE ANY YOUNG

KID DOES.

AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

I SLAY CORPORATE DRAGONS."

AND I LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>> TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, WHO DO
WE APPRECIATE?

>> Reporter: TURNS OUT MYCHAL
WILSON LIKES PLAYING THE HERO.

BLOW THE WHISTLE, CHANGE THE
WORLD.

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