Biggest Health Care Fraud Takedown Just Happened in Miami
In what is being touted as the largest health care fraud takedown in U.S. history, over 70 individuals were arrested in Miami recently.
The Florida Attorney General, the FBI, and other federal agencies all worked jointly to arrest 73 individuals involved in various health care fraud schemes. This was a massive operation that encompassed 17 cities, 243 people, and over $712 million in fraudulent medical bills. An astounding number of medical professionals were also included in the charges. Doctors, nurses, patient recruiters, money launderers, pharmacists, and others made up 46 licensed medical professionals caught in the takedown. In addition to facing jail or prison time, the defendants face losing their licenses to practice, paying fines, and possibly having to return all of the money received by virtue of the conspiracy.
The most common offenses that were involved in this takedown, and based in Miami, involved various forms of Medicaid and Medicare fraud. They ranged from billing for nonexistent medical procedures that were never performed to billing for supplies or procedures for patients that did not need them. Medical professionals submitted these false claims to the government in order to be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid.
What is amazing about this particular operation is not necessarily the crime, but the coordination and the sheer scale. Needless to say, the authorities are more than willing to go the extra mile to investigate and make arrests when it comes to health care fraud. Some of the Florida defendants are also facing conspiracy charges, specifically conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. Conspiracy charges, tacked onto the underlying fraud charges, allow for the prosecutors to ensnare more defendants and seek more severe sentences at trial, or in plea negotiations.
When confronted with such dramatic tactics, it is important to make sure your operation and finances are completely in line. With the use of conspiracy charges, you can easily find yourself on the hook for more serious or unexpected fraud counts. It is important you contact an experienced white-collar attorney the minute you feel you are at risk of an investigation. You never know how big the investigation might be and you do not want to get pulled into an operation as massive as this one.
If You Think You May Need A Lawyer, YOU DO. Call Now!
Are you looking for a skilled attorney who can help defend you against fraud charges in either state or federal court? Please contact Attorney Tony Moss at the Tony Moss Firm, L.L.C. to discuss these or any other defense matters. He has locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and is prepared to put his experience to work for you.
