⏱ 2 min read
A Fresno podiatrist and a pharmaceutical sales rep conspired to commit $3.2 million in healthcare fraud, sentencing them to 63 months in prison. Felipe Ruiz, 52, and Jose Gabriel Aguirre, 53, allowed an unlicensed person to perform skin grafts on vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries.
The scam involved debridement, a procedure that requires medical training, being performed by an unqualified individual. Ruiz’s greed led to patients being exposed to serious risk and federal health programs being drained of funds.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, and law enforcement partners worked together to identify and prosecute the duo, who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
Judge Jennifer L. Thurston ordered Ruiz and Aguirre to forfeit nine properties, worth millions, and ordered a $12.1 million personal forfeiture money judgment against Ruiz and a $2.6 million personal forfeiture money judgment against Aguirre.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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