Felipe Ruiz, a 51-year-old podiatrist from Fresno, and Jose Gabriel Aguirre, a 52-year-old sales representative from Clovis, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in California.
According to court documents, Ruiz was a podiatrist at West Coast Podiatry Inc., a medical practice with locations in Fresno, Madera, and Stanislaus Counties. Aguirre, on the other hand, was a sales representative who sold skin grafts to Ruiz and the medical practice.
Between June 2021 and January 2024, Ruiz purchased skin grafts from Aguirre and allowed Aguirre, who was not a licensed healthcare provider, to apply the skin grafts to Medicare and Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Ruiz and Aguirre then submitted claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal that falsely represented that Ruiz had applied the skin grafts to the beneficiaries, when in reality Aguirre had performed the services.
As a result of the false claims, Medicare and Medi-Cal paid Ruiz for the services, and Ruiz subsequently made payments to Aguirre. This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case, and Ruiz and Aguirre are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on January 20, 2026. Ruiz and Aguirre face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This is a serious case of healthcare fraud, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The healthcare system relies on honest providers and patients, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect it.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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