Miami Fraudster Gets 8+ Years for $16M Scam

MIAMI, FL – Roberto Murillo, 44, of North Port, Florida, is headed to federal prison for over eight years after a jury convicted him of orchestrating a brazen $16 million healthcare and wire fraud scheme. Senior U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz handed down the 105-month sentence in Miami, marking a significant blow against predatory healthcare fraud in South Florida.

The scheme, meticulously laid out at trial, centered around Friv MD, PLLC, a fraudulent Miami physical therapy clinic. Murillo, while employed at a legitimate Miami telecommunications call center, exploited his position to prey on vulnerable colleagues. He lured dozens, many grappling with financial hardship, into participating in the scam by offering cash bribes in exchange for their insurance information. The prosecution detailed how Murillo didn’t stop there, extending the exploitation to family members living with him, forcing them to participate under duress.

The evidence painted a picture of systematic deception. Friv MD then submitted over $16 million in fraudulent claims to United Healthcare for services that were never rendered or were medically unnecessary. Murillo wasn’t just a recruiter; he actively coached the recruited “patients” to lie. He instructed them to falsify paperwork, fabricate ailments to therapists, and cover up the scheme when questioned by investigators. The callousness of the operation was further underscored by instances where Murillo pocketed the promised cash bribes, leaving his recruited accomplices empty-handed.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit our healthcare system for personal gain will be held accountable,” stated Fajardo Orshan. The FBI’s investigation uncovered the depth of Murillo’s involvement and the far-reaching impact of his criminal enterprise.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne P. McNamara and Drew Bradylyons of the Fraud Section, along with Adrienne E. Rosen handling asset forfeiture, successfully prosecuted the case. The prosecution team meticulously built a case based on irrefutable evidence, securing a guilty verdict in January 2020 after a hard-fought trial. The investigation highlights the ongoing commitment of federal agencies to combat healthcare fraud and protect the integrity of the system.

Court documents related to Case No. 19-CR-20436-PAS are available on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov and through PACER at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of greed and the lengths to which some will go to defraud the system and exploit others.

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