US Federal Law Officials indicted 11 new defendants among them several Filipinos in Illinois to a federal indictment alleging they were part of a group defrauding Medicare of at least $20 million over the past five years.
Federal officials allege the 11 new defendants conspired with the initial defendant, Jacinto “John” Gabriel, to submit millions of dollars in false claims for reimbursement of home health care services purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries, which allegedly were never provided or were not medically necessary so that they could profit from the fraudulently-obtained funds.
“Gabriel and his co-schemers allegedly used the proceeds for various purposes, including using cash to gamble at casinos in the Chicago area and Las Vegas; to buy automobiles, jewelry; to purchase real estate in the United States and the Philippines; to perpetuate the businesses by paying his employees and providing them with gifts; and to bribe physicians and pay kickbacks to others in exchange for patient referrals,” the US Department of Justice said in a statement.
The 44-year-old Gabriel has been charged with one count of health care fraud conspiracy, 43 counts of health care fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, and four counts of federal income tax evasion, said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
