FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ; May 14, 2013
United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
89 Individuals Charged Nationally for Submitting
Approximately $223 Million in Fraudulent Billing;
South Florida Responsible for more than $45,299,935 in False Billings
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Ronald Verrochio, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Field Office, and Michael J. DePalma, Acting Special in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced that twenty-four (24) South Florida residents were charged for their alleged participation in various schemes to defraud Medicare out of more than $45,299,935 million. The charges in South Florida are part of a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in eight cities that resulted in charges against 89 individuals, including doctors, nurses and other licensed professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $223 million in false billings.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “Health care fraud continues to be a drain on scarce Medicare dollars, as unscrupulous individuals insist on using the Medicare Trust Fund as their private ATMs. We are undaunted and remain committed in our resolve to help preserve and protect Medicare for those who need it – the sick, the elderly and the poor.”
“Today’s announcement marks the latest step forward in our comprehensive efforts to combat fraud and abuse in our health-care systems,” said Attorney General Holder. “These significant actions build on the remarkable progress that the HEAT has enabled us to make – alongside key federal, state, and local partners – in identifying and shutting down fraud schemes. They are helping to deter would-be criminals from engaging in fraudulent activities in the first place. And they underscore our ongoing commitment to protecting the American people from all forms of health-care fraud, safeguarding taxpayer resources and ensuring the integrity of essential health-care programs.”
“The Affordable Care Act has given us additional tools to preserve Medicare and protect the tens of millions of Americans who rely on it each day,” said Secretary Sebelius. “By expanding our authority to suspend Medicare payments and reimbursements when fraud is suspected, the law allows us to better preserve the system and save taxpayer dollars. Today we’re sending a strong, clear message to anyone seeking to defraud Medicare: You will get caught and you will pay the price. We will protect a sacred trust and an earned guarantee.”
“Today’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force takedown reminds us that South Florida remains ground zero for health care fraud. Almost one third of those charged in this eight-city operation were from the Miami area, accounting for more than $45 million in fraud,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami Division. “Health care fraud is a multi-billion dollar crime problem that is not going away. The FBI is committed to rooting out health care fraud and reclaiming money that was dishonestly obtained.”
“Taxpayers expect us to work harder and smarter, and that is exactly what happened here today,” said Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Miami region. “With the coordinated work of my agents and other law enforcement officials, we will not cease aggressive investigation and prosecution of those who exploit taxpayers and federal health programs. Today’s arrests clearly demonstrate our joint commitment with all our law enforcement partners to identify and rapidly address health care fraud.”
Michael J. DePalma, Acting Special in Charge for IRS-CI stated, “It is disappointing that these defendants opted for what many think is fast and easy money. But health care fraud is not a victimless crime. Health care fraud affects each of us, as tax dollars are stolen and squandered. IRS-CI will continue to lend its financial investigative expertise to ensure that fraudsters are not allowed to enjoy their ill-gotten gains. Together with our law enforcement partners we will continue to aggressively investigate health care fraud in South Florida.”
“This is what these operations are all about: coordinated takedowns such as this are at the heart of our Strike Force efforts to stop the illegal schemes that hurt victims in our communities and our government,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ronald Verrochio.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since their inception in March 2007, Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Specifically, the South Florida cases announced as part of the nationwide Medicare Fraud Strike Force takedown include:
For the charges against Individuals: CLICK HERE
An indictment and Information are merely charges and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/130514-03.html
United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
89 Individuals Charged Nationally for Submitting
Approximately $223 Million in Fraudulent Billing;
South Florida Responsible for more than $45,299,935 in False Billings
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Ronald Verrochio, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Field Office, and Michael J. DePalma, Acting Special in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced that twenty-four (24) South Florida residents were charged for their alleged participation in various schemes to defraud Medicare out of more than $45,299,935 million. The charges in South Florida are part of a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in eight cities that resulted in charges against 89 individuals, including doctors, nurses and other licensed professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $223 million in false billings.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “Health care fraud continues to be a drain on scarce Medicare dollars, as unscrupulous individuals insist on using the Medicare Trust Fund as their private ATMs. We are undaunted and remain committed in our resolve to help preserve and protect Medicare for those who need it – the sick, the elderly and the poor.”
“Today’s announcement marks the latest step forward in our comprehensive efforts to combat fraud and abuse in our health-care systems,” said Attorney General Holder. “These significant actions build on the remarkable progress that the HEAT has enabled us to make – alongside key federal, state, and local partners – in identifying and shutting down fraud schemes. They are helping to deter would-be criminals from engaging in fraudulent activities in the first place. And they underscore our ongoing commitment to protecting the American people from all forms of health-care fraud, safeguarding taxpayer resources and ensuring the integrity of essential health-care programs.”
“The Affordable Care Act has given us additional tools to preserve Medicare and protect the tens of millions of Americans who rely on it each day,” said Secretary Sebelius. “By expanding our authority to suspend Medicare payments and reimbursements when fraud is suspected, the law allows us to better preserve the system and save taxpayer dollars. Today we’re sending a strong, clear message to anyone seeking to defraud Medicare: You will get caught and you will pay the price. We will protect a sacred trust and an earned guarantee.”
“Today’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force takedown reminds us that South Florida remains ground zero for health care fraud. Almost one third of those charged in this eight-city operation were from the Miami area, accounting for more than $45 million in fraud,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami Division. “Health care fraud is a multi-billion dollar crime problem that is not going away. The FBI is committed to rooting out health care fraud and reclaiming money that was dishonestly obtained.”
“Taxpayers expect us to work harder and smarter, and that is exactly what happened here today,” said Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Miami region. “With the coordinated work of my agents and other law enforcement officials, we will not cease aggressive investigation and prosecution of those who exploit taxpayers and federal health programs. Today’s arrests clearly demonstrate our joint commitment with all our law enforcement partners to identify and rapidly address health care fraud.”
Michael J. DePalma, Acting Special in Charge for IRS-CI stated, “It is disappointing that these defendants opted for what many think is fast and easy money. But health care fraud is not a victimless crime. Health care fraud affects each of us, as tax dollars are stolen and squandered. IRS-CI will continue to lend its financial investigative expertise to ensure that fraudsters are not allowed to enjoy their ill-gotten gains. Together with our law enforcement partners we will continue to aggressively investigate health care fraud in South Florida.”
“This is what these operations are all about: coordinated takedowns such as this are at the heart of our Strike Force efforts to stop the illegal schemes that hurt victims in our communities and our government,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ronald Verrochio.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since their inception in March 2007, Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Specifically, the South Florida cases announced as part of the nationwide Medicare Fraud Strike Force takedown include:
For the charges against Individuals: CLICK HERE
An indictment and Information are merely charges and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/130514-03.html
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