Texas DME Owner Sentenced in $1.7M Fraud Scheme

EL PASO, Texas—Edelmira Marquez, owner of durable medical equipment company Marquez Medical Supply in El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to her imprisonment, Marquez has been fined $20,000 and ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution to Medicaid. 

According to court documents, Marquez engaged in fraudulent billing practices as the owner of Marquez Medical Supply. The fraud scheme involved substituting and providing lesser valued items to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries and/or patients, then billing Medicaid and Medicare for the greater valued items. These billed items were primarily continence supplies, including adult diapers, wipes and bed liners.

Marquez was summoned to court Dec. 21, 2023, and made her initial appearance Jan. 19, 2024. Marquez pleaded guilty to the single count on March 7, 2024. Upon sentencing, Marquez was remanded into federal custody and fined.

Marquez’s sentencing announcement was made by Jaime Esparza, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, in federal court in El Paso.