The owners of a former Miami-based health clinic pleaded guilty this week to charges in an $8 million home health care fraud scheme. They will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for their roles in the operation.
Miami residents Miguel Jimenez, 43, and Marina Sanchez Pajon, 29 pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The husband and wife owners of Flores Home Health Care Inc. operated the home health agency for the purpose of billing Medicaid for services that were not necessary and/or were not provided, according to court documents.
The two owners and co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters, according to the FBI. They were paid approximately $8 Million in Medicaid reimbursements between October 2009 and June 2012 for services that were either not needed or were not provided.
Sentencing has been scheduled for October 30, 2013. The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
