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.