Medicare Fraud Scheme Results in Sentencing of Florida Couple and Co-Conspirators
A Florida man and woman have been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare, which included billing over $93 million for home health therapy services that were never provided.
Individual Sentences: Karel Felipe and Tamara Quicutis
Karel Felipe, 42, from Miami Shores, has received a prison sentence of eight years and four months.
Tamara Quicutis, 54, from Hialeah, has been sentenced to five years and 10 months.
Additionally, the court has ordered the forfeiture of fraud proceeds.
Both individuals were convicted in October 2023 on charges of conspiring to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Overview of the Fraudulent Activities
According to court documents and trial evidence, Felipe and Quicutis collaborated with others to submit false bills to Medicare for three home health companies based in Michigan.
Co-conspirators recruited individuals from Cuba to sign Medicare enrollment documents and pose as agency owners to conceal the true identities of those involved.
The fraudulent scheme involved submitting claims for services that were never rendered, utilizing stolen patient identities.
Money Laundering and Shell Companies
Felipe, Quicutis, and their co-conspirators employed dozens of shell companies and hundreds of bank accounts to launder the fraud proceeds.
They converted the funds into cash through Miami-area ATMs and check cashing stores.
Additional Sentences in the Case
Four other Florida residents were previously sentenced in connection to this case.
Jesus Trujillo received a 14-year prison sentence, Didier Arcia was sentenced to six years and eight months, Alexey Gil received five years and five months, and Jeffrey Avila was sentenced to time served and supervised release.
Announcement and Investigation
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood announced the sentences.
The FBI and HHS-OIG conducted the investigation.
Legal Proceedings and Prosecution Team
Trial Attorneys Jamie de Boer, D. Keith Clouser, and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
Efforts Against Health Care Fraud
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program.
Since March 2007, this program has charged over 5,400 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion.
Collaborative Initiatives for Accountability
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in collaboration with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes.
Additional Information
For more information on the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, visit www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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