Thread: Miami Doctor Sentenced for Massive Medicare Fraud Scheme

Miami doctor sentenced for Medicare fraud
Published: Dec. 17, 2008 at 8:50 PM

MIAMI, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A Miami doctor was sent to prison for 30 years Wednesday for aiding a massive Medicare fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said.

Besides the stiff sentence given Dr. Ana Alvarez-Jacinto -- one of the longest ever given to a physician in a federal Medicare fraud case.-- U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno gave a seven-year prison term to co-defendant Sandra Mateos, 44, a nurse.

The judge also ordered Alvarez-Jacinto and Mateos, who were convicted in October, to serve three years of supervised release following their prison term and to pay $8.3 million in restitution to the Medicare program.

Prosecutors say Alvarez-Jacinto worked in a Miami HIV/AIDS clinic that functioned as a front for a trio of Cuban immigrant brothers who allegedly masterminded a $119 million Medicare scam before fleeing to Cuba last June, the newspaper said.

Alvarez-Jacinto, 54, contended she was unaware her clinic was a front for Medicare fraud, and took out an ad in El Nuevo Herald saying, "I am innocent of the charges filed against me." In the ad, she appealed for fellow physicians, patients and others to come to her aid at the sentencing and urged them to write letters of support to the judge, the Herald said.

That ad apparently didn't work in her favor. The judge found her trial testimony to be perjurious and enhanced her sentence for obstruction of justice.

Acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Matthew Friedrich called it a case in which a doctor provided unneeded medical services "simply to bilk Medicare and make a fast buck." He said the sentence should send a "clear message" to healthcare providers.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/17/ ... 229543835/

$119 million and fled to Cuba Boy does Uncle Sam look stupid.

Well, if Madoff could sneak away with $50 Billion (Some of which went to the Democratic Senatorial Committee) $119 million looks like chicken feed. Wait...a.. minute! What am I saying?

It will be a wonder if there is any money left in this country. Just inflated US dollars, I guess.

Got that right, capt. We may not seem to be broke, but our money is worthless, based only on the full faith and credit of the Us GOV. Bush has managed to destroy that faith and credit, and the dollar which was sinking to about $1.25 per euro, is today over $1.43, so forget a European vacation for cheap.
A sinking dollar would make our exports more appealing, but since there are very few things produced in this country to export that are totally American products with American made components, the majority we export is also enriching some other country who is importing components for our factories to assemble and proudly claim Made in America.