Florida Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme for COVID-19 and Genetic Tests

Robert M. Clark, a 29-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, Florida, admitted his involvement in a fraudulent scheme aimed at defrauding Medicare. Clark, acting as the figurehead owner of Clear Choice Diagnostics Inc.

(Clear Choice), played a central role in unlawfully billing Medicare for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits and genetic tests.

Details of the Fraudulent Scheme

Court documents revealed that Clark and his co-conspirators, including the true owner of Clear Choice, obtained Medicare Beneficiary Identification numbers illegally.

These numbers were then used to bill Medicare for ineligible over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits and to pay illegal kickbacks for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries for genetic tests.

The fraudulent claims totaled approximately $30 million, with Medicare paying out around $15 million.

Guilty Plea and Potential Sentence

Clark pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, paying illegal health care kickbacks, and purchasing Medicare Beneficiary Identification numbers without lawful authority.

He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, with a sentencing date yet to be determined. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on various factors.

Announcement by Justice Department Officials

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) jointly announced Clark’s guilty plea.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case is being investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, with Trial Attorney S. Babu Kaza of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has been instrumental in prosecuting thousands of defendants involved in fraudulent schemes.

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