A Warren chiropractor who pleaded guilty to theft by deception from a patient received a probation sentence on Friday.

Ryan D. Fralick, 43, Ellicottville, was sentenced Friday before Judge Gregory Hammond.

He had initially been charged in May 2023 with felony counts including insurance fraud.

The plea, entered in February, was to a misdemeanor count of theft by deception.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Fralick, as owner and operator of Fralick Chiropractic, was investigated regarding his treatment of two patients in April and May of 2022.

Both patients had been experiencing back pain, according to the affidavit, and decided to see Fralick. They had both been involved in separate motor vehicle crashes late in 2021.

The patients told police that Fralick had advised them that their pain could be tied to injuries from the crashes and asked for their auto insurance information, according to the affidavit.

The patients reported that Fralick adjusted them only once in their first three visits. After their fourth – during which they said he provided no treatment, he told them they were suffering from degenerative disk disease and would need decompression treatment that would cost $6,500, according to the affidavit.

Neither patient returned after that, according to the affidavit.

One of the patients received explanations of benefits from the auto insurance provider in September and October. The explanation showed that Fralick allegedly billed the insurance for 18 visits that the patients never made resulting in charges of $8,500.

The company also paid for MRIs on the patients performed at Warren General Hospital allegedly requested by Fralick, according to the affidavit. The company “has questioned their legitimacy and if they were medically necessary.”

Agents from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General questioned Fralick in March, according to the affidavit.

He was told the victims said they had signed in each time they had been to the office. Asked for the sign-in sheets, Fralick allegedly told agents he did not utilize sign-in sheets.

“On the counter in front of (the agents) was a clipboard with a dated paper asking patients to please sign in,” according to the affidavit. “The actor stated his office staff must use the sign-in documents.”

Fralick’s attorney, Chief Public Defender Kord Kinney, cited his client’s limited prior record and said his client wants to make restitution as soon as possible.

Insurance Fraud Deputy Attorney General Grant Miller said he was seeking $939.29 in restitution to an insurance company and $150 to a patient.

He noted that a probation sentence was in the standard range.

Fralick then requested to withdraw his guilty plea citing new evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Hammond quickly denied that motion.

“It is my practice,” Fralick said. “I feel beyond terrible to both patients. For that I am very sorry. (I’ll) make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Hammond then sentenced Fraclick to one year probation, $250 in fines and fees, restitution as outlined at the AG, compliance with drug and alcohol treatment recommendations and 50 hours of community service.