Two Sentenced for Roles in $93 Million Home Health Fraud Scheme
- January 12, 2024
Karel Felipe was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison and Tamara Quicutis was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for their roles in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $93 million for home health therapy services that were never rendered, the Department of Justice announced January 5.
According to court documents, Felipe and Quicutis conspired with others to submit false bills to Medicare for three home health companies located in Michigan. Their co-conspirators recruited individuals from Cuba to sign Medicare enrollment documents and appear as the owners of the home health agencies to conceal the identities of Felipe, Quicutis, and others involved in the scheme.
Felipe, Quicutis, and their co-conspirators then used these home health companies to submit claims for services that were not rendered using lists of stolen patient identities, a press release said.
Four additional Florida residents were previously sentenced in the case, according to the release.