Two Florida men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a $34.8 million healthcare fraud conspiracy involving medically unnecessary orthotic braces billed to Medicare.
Kenneth Kessler III, of Miami, was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
Michael Gomez, of Miramar, Fla., was sentenced to 24 months in prison, according to a Sept. 4 Justice Department news release.
The men owned and operated seven durable medical equipment supply companies in Florida and submitted millions of dollars in false Medicare claims for medically unnecessary orthotic braces, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said Mr. Kessler and Mr. Gomez paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed physicians’ orders. They used the orders to ship braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including people who did not request or need them, and then billed Medicare for the braces.
The men also shifted fraudulent billing among their companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions, according to the Justice Department.
Mr. Kessler profited more than $1.4 million from the scheme and Mr. Gomez profited more than $2.3 million.
Both men pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
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