In a stunning revelation, two brothers from South Florida have confessed to participating in a massive $67 million scam aimed at exploiting Medicare recipients and enriching themselves through fraudulent practices.
Daniel M. Carver, 36, of Boca Raton, and his younger brother, Louis “Gino” Carver, 32, of Delray Beach, were among seven individuals who pleaded guilty to their involvement in the elaborate scheme.
The fraudulent operation involved deceptive telemarketing campaigns, unnecessary genetic tests, and bribes, resulting in a colossal sum of false claims submitted to Medicare between January 2020 and July 2021.
As the legal proceedings continue, the impact of this deceitful enterprise on both beneficiaries and the healthcare system at large remains a matter of grave concern.
At the center of the elaborate scam were call centers owned and managed by Daniel M. Carver.
These centers were employed to conduct deceptive telemarketing campaigns, specifically targeting Medicare beneficiaries.
The telemarketers lured the recipients into undergoing medically unnecessary genetic tests and obtaining unnecessary medical equipment.
The genetic tests purportedly used DNA sequencing to identify mutations in genes that indicated a higher risk of developing specific types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
However, investigations revealed that the tests were nothing more than a guise to generate false claims and unjustly receive federal funds.
The unsuspecting Medicare recipients were deceived into undergoing these tests, exposing them to potential health risks and exploiting their trust in the healthcare system.
To escalate the scheme further, the Carvers and their co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies in exchange for completed doctors’ orders.
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These dishonest practices facilitated the selling of these orders to laboratories and medical equipment companies for additional kickbacks.
The financial gains from these fraudulent transactions were siphoned off from Medicare, causing a substantial drain on the federal funds meant to support genuine healthcare services.
As the fraud unfolded, the perpetrators resorted to forgery, fabricating doctors’ and patients’ signatures to facilitate the submission of false claims.
Additionally, they cunningly tricked medical providers into ordering medically unnecessary genetic testing, further compounding the deceit and manipulation of the healthcare system.
Following four days of trial in the Southern District of Florida, Daniel M. Carver and Louis “Gino” Carver both pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
Carver could be sentenced to a decade behind bars. Their sentencing is scheduled for December 5.
However, the legal proceedings are far from over, as five other Florida residents await their sentencing after pleading guilty in connection to the scam.
Furthermore, three additional individuals are set to stand trial starting on September 26, indicating the scope and complexity of this fraudulent operation.
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Source: AOL, Office of Public Affairs