Dennis Nobbe, COVID Relief Fraud, Florida 2024

Florida chiropractor charged with COVID relief fraud

A Florida chiropractor has been charged with COVID relief fraud, health care fraud and money laundering after allegedly obtaining over $200,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loans intended to provide COVID relief.

Dennis Nobbe, 63, of Miami, Florida, was charged by criminal complaint, unsealed today upon his arrest, in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud; health care fraud; conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; making false statements to a financial institution; money laundering; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Nobbe is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan at 1 p.m. EST today.

The complaint alleges that Nobbe, a chiropractor, orchestrated a scheme to exploit his patients for financial gain through a credit card program intended to help patients pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. To conceal his role in the scheme, Nobbe paid bribes to other physicians to open credit card merchant accounts in their names.

Nobbe then encouraged patients at his chiropractic business, Dynamic Medical Services Inc., many of whom were low-income and did not speak English, to apply for the credit cards. According to the complaint, Nobbe charged thousands of dollars to these credit cards for services that he never, or only partially, rendered, leaving patients saddled with debt.

The complaint further alleges that Nobbe obtained over $200,000 in PPP and EIDL loans intended to provide COVID relief, and that Nobbe transferred portions of the proceeds to shell companies under his control and to pay personal expenses.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nobbe is currently in custody and will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan at 1 p.m. EST today.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/florida-man-charged-covid-relief-fraud-health-care-fraud-and-money-laundering