At a sentencing hearing Friday, Crown prosecutor Greg Whiteside told court that Calgary dentist Alena Smadych could receive a prison sentence of up to three years after admitting she submitted nearly $684,348.10 in falsified dental-insurance claims between 2013 and 2023, different media outlets reported.
Smadych, 55, previously owned All About Family Dental — once identified as the highest-billing general-dental clinic in Canada for root canals. She pleaded guilty in June to defrauding two insurers (Sun Life Insurance and Alberta Blue Cross) of more than $125,000 in false claims.
Related: Calgary dentist billed $126K in fake claims — clinic led Canada in root canal billings
Subsequently, three additional insurers came forward. In total, the false billings amounted to $684,348.10.
Whiteside argued the scope and duration of the fraud justify a custodial sentence near the high end of the two- to three-year federal range.
In court, the defence noted that Smadych has since made full restitution to the insurers involved.
However, remorse might not all help her completely to avoid a prison sentence.
“I get that she’s sorry,” said the presiding judge, Gord Wong. “It’s less impactful at this stage in the game.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January, when the judge will decide whether Smadych will serve a custodial or community-based sentence.