Grimy Times Exclusive: A federal district judge in Fort Lauderdale yesterday handed down sentences to the last of 16 defendants involved in a large-scale kickback and bribery scheme at two South Florida VA hospitals. The scheme, which involved employees and vendors of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in West Palm Beach and Miami, netted the defendants over $20 million in purchase orders.
The masterminds behind the scheme were Earron Starks, 51, and his wife Carlicha Starks, 42, both from Hallandale Beach, Florida. Earron Starks was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,451,000 in restitution. His wife, Carlicha Starks, received a three-year supervised release, including one year of home confinement, and was ordered to pay $501,000 in restitution.
The Starks couple, who were vendors selling supplies to the VA, paid kickbacks to employees in exchange for getting the VA’s business. In return, medical center employees used government credit cards to order medical and other hospital supplies from these corrupt vendors, often at grossly inflated prices. The scheme enabled the Starks couple and other corrupt vendors to receive over $20 million in purchase orders with VA Medical Centers in West Palm Beach and Miami.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is determined to hold accountable those who tarnish the VA through fraud, bribes, or other crimes. ‘There is no place for kickbacks in our veterans’ healthcare system,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez. ‘These crimes not only violate the public’s trust, they also compromise the integrity of programs intended to help those who have made great sacrifices for our country.’
Fourteen additional defendants were charged in connection with the scheme, all of whom pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from 10 days to 27 months’ incarceration. The defendants who worked at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center received sentences that included 24 months’ probation, while those who worked at the Miami VA Medical Center received sentences that included nine months’ incarceration and 36 months of supervised release.
The VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, praised the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership in holding the defendants accountable. ‘These crimes were a gross violation of public trust and a threat to the resources used to care for our nation’s veterans and their families,’ said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker. ‘The act of soliciting and accepting bribes undermines the vital work that honest VA employees do every day.’
The federal investigation into the scheme revealed that the defendants solicited and accepted bribes in exchange for awarding contracts to vendors who participated in the scheme. The investigation also revealed that the defendants used government credit cards to make purchases that were not approved by the VA. The scheme ultimately resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida will continue to investigate and prosecute those who engage in similar schemes that compromise the integrity of the VA healthcare system. ‘We will hold accountable anyone who tarnishes the VA through fraud, bribes, or other crimes,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez. ‘The public can trust that we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of our veterans’ healthcare system.’
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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