Press Release
DME COMPANY OWNER CONVICTED IN MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME
October 06, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Melody Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Regional Office, announced today that a jury found defendant Eduardo Batista Barquin, 38, of Miami, FL, guilty of four counts of health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347 (Counts 1 through 4). Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro is scheduled for December 19, 2008.
According to the indictment and evidence admitted at trial, defendant Batista controlled and operated America Medical Services & Supplies, Inc. (“America Medical”), a durable medical equipment (“DME”) company located at 6850 Coral Way, Suite 207, Miami, FL. From February 2003 through March 2004, Batista – as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Registered Agent of America Medical – caused the submission of approximately $3,485,144 in false claims to Medicare for DME items and services that were not prescribed by doctors or provided as claimed.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Clark.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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