Former Owner of Atenas Medical Equipment, Inc. Arrested on Health Care Fraud Charges (FL)

Department of Justice ^ | August 21, 2009 | United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida

[Larry381]

On August 20, 2009, a federal grand jury in Miami returned an eleven-count Indictment charging Aloise with health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347. According to the Indictment, Aloise was the owner of Atenas Medical Equipment, Inc., a Hialeah-based company that purportedly provided durable medical equipment (“DME”) to Medicare beneficiaries. From June 8, 2005, through April 4, 2007, Atenas Medical Equipment is alleged to have submitted approximately $1,421,346 in fraudulent claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for DME items, such as oxygen concentrators and hospital beds, that had not been prescribed by physicians nor provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

If convicted, Aloise faces a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment on each of the health care fraud counts.

[Larry381]

What's up with Florida and all the Health Care fraud cases?

[malia]

I guess this is to show us how much we need congress to help us or whatever.

[FlingWingFlyer]

If you think healthcare fraud is bad now, just wait until the government takes it over. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

[BykrBayb]

How stupid are they? Those records are so easy to track.

[Liz]

FREEPER COMMENTS Another 'cash for clunkers' program. The perps (below) submitted approximately $179M in fraudulent claims to Medicare that had not been prescribed or ordered by a physician, nor was it ever delivered to a Medicare beneficiary. Proof that Medicare and ‘ObamaCare’ run by his government is wide open for fraud. No one is minding the store.

Based on those bogus claims, Medicare paid the DME companies approximately $56 million. But Bama said that it was crass 'get rich quick' doctors removing tonsils or lopping off a diabetic's foot.......instead of prescribing Dr Zeke's "magic pill."

The missing perp is in Mexico with $millions by now. Probably also stiffed several US banks holding sub-prime mortgages (obtained with fraudulent documents). Is now holed up in a condo in Acapulco pocketing several SS checks w/ several ID's, tax refunds, UI checks, disability checks, etc, etc, etc.

Minority-sounding names means they aren’t allowed to be investigated.....for fear they might be "disrespected."

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REFERENCE July 2, 2009
Dept of Justice----US Atty's Office----Southern District of Florida
Two Miami Men Indicted for $179 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
FR Posted July 02, 2009 by Larry381

Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, and Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Miami Regional Office, announced that defendants Jose Luis Perez, of Golden Beach, FL, and Reinaldo Guerra, of Miami, FL, were indicted on June 30, 2009 on charges of conspiracy to commit Medicare fraud, Medicare fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to the Indictment unsealed today, the fraud involved durable medical equipment (DME), which is equipment that can be used in the home on a repeated basis for a medical purpose. Where DME is prescribed or ordered by a physician, an authorized Medicare provider who supplies the equipment to a Medicare beneficiary may be eligible for reimbursement by Medicare.

The Indictment charges that Perez and Guerra owned and operated 21 corporations that purported to supply DME to Medicare beneficiaries pursuant to physicians’ prescriptions or written orders, using straw or nominee owners to disguise their control over the companies.

They submitted approximately $179 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME that had not been prescribed or ordered by a physician nor delivered to a Medicare beneficiary. Based on those claims, Medicare paid the DME companies approximately $56 million.

In addition to health care fraud, the defendants were charged with aggravated identity theft for using physicians’ Medicare identification numbers without the physicians’ authorization. Guerra has been arrested and appeared in court earlier today. Perez remains at large and is being sought by law enforcement.

Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne.