10 ALF owners arrested in healthcare fraud, kickback scheme

Suspects accused of accepting kickbacks for referring residents to company

MIAMI ā€“ Ten Miami-Dade County assisted living facility owners have been charged in connection with a healthcare fraud and kickback scheme, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Tuesday.

According to investigators, the owners received cash kickbacks and bribes for referring residents in the ALFs to the former owner of Florida Pharmacy Inc., a Miami-Dade County company, for prescription medications and durable medical equipment paid for by Medicare and Florida Medicaid.

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Prosecutors said the suspects submitted false claims to Medicaid on behalf of their businesses and signed and submitted non-institutional Medicaid provider agreements, in which they falsely represented compliance with state and federal laws.Ā 

"This extensive investigation uncovered a massive kickback scheme targeting our seniors, but working together with our great federal partners, this health care fraud scheme has been thwarted and 10 suspects are now in police custody," Bondi said in a statement.

Below is a list of the suspects arrested in the case:

  • Alicia Almeida, 56, of Miami Lakes;
  • Norma Casanova, 67, of Miami Lakes;
  • Yeny De Erbiti, 51, of Miami;
  • Maribel Galvan, 43, of Miami Lakes;
  • Marlene Marrero, 60, of Miami;
  • Blanca Orozco, 69, of Miramar;
  • Dianelys Perez, 34, of Miami Gardens;
  • Jorge Rodriguez, 57, of Hialeah;
  • Rene Vega, 57, of Miami; and
  • Osniel Vera, 47, of Hialeah.

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About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.