Anthony Duane Bell, Sr. and Anthony Duane Bell, Jr., Medicare Fraud, California 2023

Anthony Duane Bell, Sr., a 54-year-old El Cajon resident, and his son, Anthony Duane Bell, Jr., 33, of Los Angeles, have pleaded guilty to participating in a massive Medicare fraud scheme in California. The duo was charged with health care fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

According to court records, Bell, Sr. and Bell, Jr. created companies known as Universal Medical Solutions 1 and Universal Medical Solutions 2, with locations in Santee and San Diego. They supplied durable medical equipment such as knee, ankle, wrist, shoulder, and back braces to Medicare beneficiaries. However, the Bells obtained prescriptions for these braces by paying kickbacks to ‘marketing’ companies, which in turn paid doctors for medically unnecessary prescriptions.

The Bells concealed their fraudulent kickback scheme by entering into sham ‘marketing’ agreements and other contracts. They would purchase the braces at a significantly lower price than what they billed Medicare, making a substantial profit from the scheme. The investigation revealed that the Bells fraudulently received over $21 million in Medicare payments.

As part of his guilty plea, Bell, Sr. agreed to pay $21,725,604.56 in restitution to Medicare and forfeit $806,375.12, as well as a multi-million-dollar luxury house in El Cajon. Bell, Jr. admitted to making false statements to the FBI to conceal the scheme.

“Fraudulent conduct that exploits the Medicare system erodes public support for this important program and squanders taxpayer resources,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies worked together to bring the Bells to justice.

The Bells are scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2024, at 9 a.m., before U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes.

Anthony Duane Bell, Sr. and Anthony Duane Bell, Jr., are charged with health care fraud, a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in custody and a $250,000 fine. They are also charged with making false statements, a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in custody and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services, and United States Marshal’s Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valerie H. Chu and Christopher M. Alexander of the Southern District of California.

El Cajon, California - June 15, 2023

Restitution: $21,725,604.56

Forfeiture: $806,375.12

Sentence: Scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2024

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/father-and-son-guilty-21-million-medicare-fraud-scheme