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Luis González-Cordova, Bribery, Puerto Rico 2014
In a shocking development, a federal grand jury has returned a 14-count indictment against eight individuals for bribery, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), with the collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Health Medicaid Anti-Fraud Unit.
The Medicaid Program, also known as Mi Salud, is a federal health benefit program intended to provide benefits to low-income individuals and families. In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Medicaid is referred to in Spanish as Mi Salud, or Plan de Salud del Gobierno (PSG). An individual’s eligibility for Medicaid or Commonwealth health care benefits depends on certain eligibility requirements.
The indictment charges three agents of the Programa De Asistencia Médica Santurce Office with receiving monetary bribes in exchange for certifying individuals as eligible to receive Medicaid health care benefits. The charged agents are Luis González-Cordova, a clerk in the Santurce office who dealt with Mi Salud participant files and individual applicants that sought Mi Salud benefits; Karen Curet-Nieves, a program technician in the Santurce office who evaluated and determined the eligibility of Mi Salud applicants, input data in the MEDITI system and approved Mi Salud benefits for participants; and Orlando Negrón-Bonilla, a program technician in the Santurce office who evaluated and determined eligibility of Mi Salud applicants, input data in the MEDITI system and approved Mi Salud benefits for participants.
The indictment alleges that from on or about July 9, 2014, through on or about Oct. 10, 2015, González-Cordova, Curet-Nieves and Negrón-Bonilla aiding and abetting one another, did corruptly solicit, demand, accept and agree to accept a thing of value from a person, to wit, cash payments, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of Programa De Asistencia Médica involving $5,000 or more. Rather, than abiding by their duties to ensure participants were in fact low-income and eligible for Medicaid, defendants abdicated those responsibilities in exchange for cash.
The defendants and various ‘runners’ are also charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. During the course of the conspiracy and scheme, defendants Ruben Escalera-Rivera, Perfecto De Leon-Toribio, Luis Caceres-De Leon, Luis Angel Garcia-Rosa and Andrea Jimenez-De Jesús, acted as ‘runners.’
The indictment charges the defendants with the following crimes:
- Bribery
- Conspiracy to commit health care fraud
- Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States
- Mail fraud
- Aggravated identity theft
The case is ongoing, and the defendants are scheduled to appear in court at a later date. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Luis González-Cordova
- Criminal Charges: Bribery, Conspiracy to commit health care fraud, Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, Mail fraud and Aggravated identity theft
- City and State: Puerto Rico
- Exact Date: July 9, 2014 – Oct. 10, 2015
- Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing case
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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