Related Federal Cases
- Dr. John Doe, Health Care Fraud, Chicago IL, 2023 · Texas
- Terrence Ewing Syler, Health Care Fraud, Beaumont TX, 2023 · Oklahoma
- Roy G Heilbron, Health Care Fraud, New Mexico 2024 · Texas
- James Henry Hardee, Wire Fraud, Tyler TX, 2023 · Texas
- Seven Individuals, Bank Loan Application Fraud, Texas 2024 · Oklahoma
Convicted Health Care Fraudsters Charged Under False Claims Act in Texas
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The owner and administrator of Texas-based Merida hospice and home health entities, Rodney Mesquias and Henry McInnis, both 51, and formerly from Harlingen, have been named in a multi-million-dollar whistleblower lawsuit, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The men were convicted of ciminal health care fraud and conspiracy charges following a lengthy trial in Brownsville on Nov. 6, 2019. Rodney Mesquias is currently serving 240 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, while Henry McInnis is serving 180 months. Mesquias has also been ordered to pay $120 million in restitution to the Medicare program.
The civil complaint filed today, alleges Mesquias and McInnis conspired to violate the civil False Claims Act by submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary hospice and home health services. It also alleges they paid illegal kickbacks to Merida medical directors for patient referrals and created false patient medical records in support of the false and fraudulent claims.
“All health care providers who submit claims to the Medicare program are on notice that when they enroll in Medicare, they are subject to both criminal and civil consequences for the submission of false and fraudulent claims,” said Lowery.
The United States is also entitled to recover triple the damages for violations of the civil False Claims Act as well as civil monetary penalties between $11,803 and $23,607 for each false claim submitted to Medicare.
The Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Health and Human Services Commission conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Redlinger is handling the matter.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
