Manuel Lozano, 65, and Vladimir Jimenez, 43, pleaded guilty in February and January, respectively, in a Miami, Fla. federal court to one count each of conspiracy to receive healthcare kickbacks. The two were patient recruiters for Serendipity Home Health, a Miami-based home healthcare agency, and participated in a $20 million Medicare fraud scheme. They each face a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for April.
Lori Jo Mueller, age 48, pleaded guilty in Minneapolis to defrauding her employer, Edelweiss Home Health Care, and Medica, a nonprofit that provides health insurance products. In her plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of healthcare fraud and admitted that she embezzled approximately $840,000 from her employer. Mueller faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for wire fraud and 10 years for healthcare fraud. A sentencing date had not been set by press time.
Babubhai "Bob" Patel, 50, a former owner and operator of 26 pharmacies in the Detroit area, was sentenced in Michigan in February to 17 years in prison on 26 convictions of healthcare fraud conspiracy, a drug conspiracy and related fraud and drug violations.