Miami DME Owner Gets 10 Years

Defendant Alfredo F. Lopez has been sentenced to 10 years in
prison for his role in orchestrating a multi-million-dollar health
care fraud and money-laundering scheme. According to a statement
from U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta, from 2003 through 2006,
Lopez owned various Miami DME companies that collectively submitted
more than $16.5 million in false claims to Medicare for services
and equipment that were never provided. As well, Lopez used a
series of straw owners to conceal his ownership of the
companies.

A former tow truck driver, Lopez learned how to commit health
care fraud from a former customer, defendant Angel Castillo Jr.,
the statement said. In 2007, Castillo got a 19-year sentence for
submitting more than $48 million in false claims. Lopez used
Castillo’s business model, banking and medical billing contacts to
set up his own fraud scheme, officials said. Lopez laundered more
than $3.3 million he got from Medicare by using friends and others
to cash hundreds of checks.

In connection with the investigation, the U.S. Secret Service
recovered more than $778,000 in cash, a 2007 Mercedes CL 550, a
2008 Cadillac Escalade, Rolex watches and other jewelry.