A South Florida home health care owner, Yunesky I. Fornaris, 38, of Miami, was charged in an indictment unsealed today for his alleged participation in a $15 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services.
According to the indictment, from April 2010 through July 2016, Fornaris and his co-conspirators hid their ownership in Elite Home Care LLC, a Miami-area home health clinic, in the name of a nominee owner in an effort to conceal their participation in the fraudulent scheme. As a result, Medicare paid approximately $15 million as a result of false and fraudulent claims submitted by Elite.
Fornaris was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. He was arrested today and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff of the Southern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that Fornaris and his co-conspirators submitted false and fraudulent application documents, causing Medicare to give and continue to reauthorize Elite’s Medicare provider number. In addition, Fornaris allegedly signed portions of Elite’s Medicare applications and re-certifications committing Elite to comply with Medicare’s rules and regulations, as well as the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
Notwithstanding these certifications, Fornaris and his co-conspirators allegedly caused kickbacks to be paid to Medicare beneficiaries and patient recruiters in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries to Elite. The FBI, HHS-OIG and USSS investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida.
Former Fraud Section Attorney and current Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa H. Miller of the Southern District of Florida and Fraud Section Attorney Adam G. Yoffie are prosecuting the case. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 3,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $11 billion.
Related Federal Cases
- Miami Home Health Boss Pleads Guilty in $6.2M Medicare Fraud · Florida
- Miami Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to $5.3M HIV Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Miami Clinic Owners Face Guilty Pleas in $5.3M Medicare Fraud Scam · Alabama
- Miami Clinic Execs Guilty in $5.3M Medicare Fraud Scam · Florida
- Miami Dade Students, Target Employees Plead Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
