DENVER (AP) — Prosecutors say a Colorado man forged doctors’ orders and used identical handwritten notes purportedly from nurses to bilk $3.4 million from a government health-care program for ailing nuclear workers.

Anthony Paul Breaux of Palisade, Colo., is also accused of paying relatives of ailing workers $13 an hour for care they were already providing while Breaux billed the government up to $100 an hour by falsely claiming the relatives were nurses.

Breaux pleaded guilty Thursday to health-care fraud and money laundering. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the fraud charge and 10 years for money laundering.

Breaux billed the government for care for nine people in Arizona, Colorado and Oregon.

A defense lawyer says Breaux accepts responsibility and is cooperating with government efforts to recover the money.

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