MIAMI, FL – A brazen scheme to siphon over $2.4 million from Medicare and Medicaid has landed three Floridians – and one fugitive caught overseas – in federal custody. Authorities allege Dr. Daniel Ronchetta, 77, John Crowe, 76, and Frank Barrios, 48, colluded to create and submit fraudulent home health prescriptions and plans of care, fueled by a network of kickbacks and bribes paid to patient recruiters.
The arrests, announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the HHS-OIG, stem from a four-count federal indictment returned by a Miami grand jury last month. The indictment charges the trio with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, substantive counts of health care fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay/receive health care kickbacks. Crowe was apprehended in Colombia, requiring assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
“Health care providers should generate business by offering their patients superior care,” Ferrer stated bluntly. “Financial relationships that put profits over patients undermine the quality and care given to patients and ultimately, the integrity of our public health care program upon which millions of Floridians depend.” Bondi echoed the sentiment, calling it a “brazen attempt to get away with stealing millions of taxpayer dollars,” while Jackson emphasized the damage to public trust and the financial integrity of federal programs.
The investigation is part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a multi-agency effort that, since its inception in 2007, has charged over 1,650 defendants with collectively billing Medicare for more than $4.5 billion. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are also implementing measures to bolster accountability and weed out fraudulent providers. This case highlights the ongoing battle against those who exploit the system for personal gain, diverting vital resources from legitimate healthcare needs.
Ferrer extended gratitude to the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control, and HHS-OIG for their tireless investigative work. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagerenesh Simmons is prosecuting the case. While the indictment represents a significant step, it’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Court documents and additional information related to this case can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or through PACER at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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