Biography Photo of Andrew L Sparks

Andrew L. Sparks

Andrew practices in the area of litigation with a particular emphasis on government enforcement, white collar criminal defense, internal and government investigations, health care and false claims act matters, and complex business disputes.

Before joining Dickinson Wright, Andrew worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky for fifteen years. Andrew served as the chief of the white collar crime division, where he was responsible for all matters involving health care fraud, financial fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, public corruption, cybercrime, environmental crime and civil False Claims Act cases.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, Andrew successfully prosecuted a broad range of criminal cases, from the early investigative stages through grand jury, trial and appeal. Andrew has tried nearly two dozen civil and criminal cases, including matters involving health care fraud, bank and mortgage fraud, tax fraud, and investment fraud. He served as lead prosecutor on several multi-month criminal trials and has argued over forty cases in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Andrew also served a detail at the Department of Justice’s Federal Programs Branch in Washington, D.C. Andrew has been an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he taught classes in litigation skills and legal writing. Andrew has received commendations from numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the United States Postal Service, the United States Bureau of Prisons, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Education & Credentials

Education

Transylvania University

B.A., 1997

University of Kentucky College of Law

J.D., 2000
  • With Honors
  • Editor in Chief, Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law

Bar Admission

  • Kentucky

Prominent Assignments

  • Successfully advocated on behalf of multiple physicians who were investigated as part of the nationwide campaign against opioid misuse
  • Provided legal counsel to a pain specialist facing indictment under the nationwide opioid task force, charged with health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1347. Successfully secured an acquittal for our client in a trial.
  • Successfully defended a client against wire fraud charges, resulting in the dismissal of the indictment prior to trial through strategic legal maneuvering.
  • Negotiated with government authorities to prevent the prosecution of pharmacy owners amid an opioid prescribing investigation focused on a suboxone clinic, leveraging factors such as client health, age, and educational background.
  • Represented a healthcare institution in navigating a False Claims Act case initiated by the United States Department of Justice, ensuring compliance and protecting the institution's reputation.
  • Assisted a regional hospital in addressing a qui tam lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging False Claims Act violations, mitigating legal risks and safeguarding the hospital's interests.
  • Provided legal representation to a medical practitioner facing scrutiny from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Medicaid Services (AHCCCS) for alleged overbilling practices, achieving a favorable resolution for the client.
  • Conducted internal review for the City of Louisville Metropolitan Police Department into allegations of sexual abuse in its youth Explorer program.
  • Conducted internal review for the Diocese of Lexington into allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
  • Conducted an internal review into allegations of bribery at a Fortune 500 Company.
  • Successfully defended an investment advisor accused of financial fraud
  • Successfully defended a physician accused of violations of the Anti-Kickback statute.
  • Successfully represented an individual investigated for campaign finance violations.
  • Successfully represented several healthcare providers in overpayment disputes with insurance providers.

 

Professional Involvement

  • University of Kentucky College of Law, Adjunct Professor 
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association, Kentucky Chapter President
  • Fayette County Bar Association
  • American Health Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

  • Lexington Philharmonic, Board of Directors
  • The Nest Center for Women, Children & Families, Board of Directors
  • Eastern Little League, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Arlington Elementary Family Resource Center
  • Crestwood Christian Church, Trustee, Past Moderator of Administrative Board

Experience

  • Clerkship, Hon. Henry R. Wilhoit, Jr. United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
  • Clerkship, Hon. Roger L. Crittenden, Franklin Circuit Court, Commonwealth of Kentucky

Court Admissions

  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
  • United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky

Publications/Presentations

  • Co-Chair, “The NAIC Model Bulletin: Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems by Insurers, Adoption by Illinois and how Illinois and Other Regulators are Dealing with AI,” Insurance Bar Committee Meeting, Chicago Bar Association, April 2024
  • Author, "Providers Face Government Scrutiny Over COVID Coverage For Uninsured,” Dickinson Wright Health Law Blog, March 2024
  • Author, "Supreme Court Issues Ruling on the Requisite Intent for False Claims Act Defendants,” Dickinson Wright Health Law Blog, July 2023
  • Author, “DOJ Increases Focus on COVID 19 Fraud,” Healthcare Michigan, May 2021 
  • Co-Presenter, Political and Policy Advocacy with 501(c)(4) Organizations in Ohio, Dickinson Wright Webinar, September 2020
  • Co-Presenter, Political and Policy Advocacy for 501[c](4) Organizations in Kentucky, Dickinson Wright Webinar, September 2020
  • Author, "A review of key 2018 False Claims Act recoveries and developments," Physicians Practice, February 2019
  • Co-Author, Chapter 610 “Billing for Items or Services Not Rendered,” Bloomberg Law’s Health Care Program Compliance Guide, June 2018 (Reproduced with permission from Published June 11, 2018. Copyright 2018 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (800-372-1033) <http://www.bna.com>)
  • Co-Author, “Prescription for Fraud:  Government Enforcement Activities in Compounding Pharmacies,” Healthcare Michigan, November 2017
  • “Preventing Overpayments from Becoming False Claims” June 2017
  • “Ethical Issues in Parallel Proceedings,” EDKY/WDKY Health Care Fraud Conference, Frankfort, KY, July 29, 2015
  • “Enforcement Activities by Investigative Authorities,” University of Kentucky College of Law, Continuing Legal Education Program, Lexington, KY, November 7, 2013
  • “Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Looking up the Chain of Command in Fraud & Abuse Investigations,” HCCA Compliance Institute Program, Orlando, FL, April 11, 2011
  • “Why False Claims Matter,” Indiana Office of Attorney General, May 4, 2010
  • "Federal Criminal Discovery," Chapter 5, United States Department of Justice Office of Legal Education, published March 2011
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