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Ft. Lauderdale Man Allegedly Used Fraudulently Obtained PPP Loans To Defraud Medicare

On Behalf of | Jul 17, 2020 | Government Fraud

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A Broward County man is facing Federal fraud charges after investigators say he used Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to enable an attempt to defraud Medicare.

Per investigators, the 37-year-old man submitted multiple applications for PPP loans to local banks and financial institutions earlier this year under the name of a durable medical equipment firm. They say the firm routinely submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DMEs that were either unnecessary, ineligible for reimbursement through Medicare, or not properly delivered to the beneficiary.

The defendant was the owner of the store, and witnesses allegedly told investigators that the store routinely sent them unwanted DMEs, used their Medicare numbers without authorization, and delivered DMEs that were not the same as those described to them previously.

Prosecutors allege the defendant of filing fraudulent loan applications for the PPP program as well. He allegedly used fraudulent tax documents and altered profit-and-loss statements to support the loan applications, and he was allegedly successful in obtaining over $22,000 in fraudulent loans. Per investigators, a portion of that money was used to pay another company they suspect of involvement in the scheme to defraud Medicare.

The defendant was charged last week with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, payment of health care kickbacks, and making false statements to a financial institution. He made his first appearance in Federal court in Miami last Friday.

The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murderfelony drug chargesdrunk drivinggovernment fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.

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