David Williams, who authorities call “the mastermind” of a Long Island Medicaid scheme responsible for stealing more than $1 million, was sentenced to three years to nine years in prison.

David Williams and his wife Cynthia Williams, owners of the Hempstead, N.Y.-based People’s Choice Surgical Supplies, are responsible for billing Medicaid for more than $1 million dollars for medical equipment never ordered by physicians from 2003 to 2006, according to the New York District Attorney’s office. People’s Choice billed an additional $50,000 for medical equipment never provided to Medicaid recipients, according to investigators.

The false claims were submitted by stealing identity information from physicians and by paying some Medicaid recipients for their policy numbers. People’s Choice then used this information to bill Medicaid for medical equipment products that were unnecessary, not ordered with doctors permission, or not provided at all, according to authorities.

Cynthia Williams was convicted earlier of third-degree grand larceny and sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation; one employee, Kenya Gadson, was convicted of petit larceny and sentenced to three years probation and suspended from the health care field for three years; another employee, Ramona Wiley, was convicted of petit larceny for receiving Medicaid benefits while working for People’s Choice and claiming no income. Wiley’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

In addition to their sentences, David Williams, Cynthia Williams and People’s Choice must pay Medicaid more than $1.1 million in restitution.

“These individuals developed a scheme to profit off of the backs of all New York taxpayers. Now, they are paying the price for it,” said New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo in a statement.