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Miami Man Sentenced for Medicare Kickbacks
Rene Suarez-Basanta, a 67-year-old Miami man, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for accepting kickbacks from a home health agency, according to federal authorities.
U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release and restitution to the Medicare trust fund in the amount of $16,740.57.
The conviction of Suarez-Basanta stemmed from the investigation of Safe Home Health Care, Inc., a home health agency in Miami that was offering and paying kickbacks to obtain beneficiaries to serve as patients for home health services, mostly physical therapy.
Conspirators at the agency used the beneficiary information to bill Medicare. Suarez-Basanta and co-defendant Marta Gonzalez were convicted of conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks. Gonzalez was also convicted of two additional counts for soliciting and accepting kickbacks in exchange for serving as a patient of Safe Home Health Care, Inc.
Gonzalez was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Co-defendant Jorge Sell was previously sentenced to 97 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and HHS-OIG. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Morales.
In total, nine defendants have been convicted of paying and receiving health care kickbacks in this investigation, marking a significant blow to Medicare fraud in the region.
RELATED: Lexington Doctor Sentenced for Kickback Conspiracy
RELATED: Lexington Doc Sentenced for Kickback Scheme
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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