Nine Individuals Charged In Middle District Of Florida In Connection With Health Care Fraud Schemes

Nine Individuals Charged in Massive Healthcare Fraud Scheme

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today that nine individuals have been charged in connection with elaborate schemes to defraud programs designed for the care of the elderly and disabled, and to obtain controlled substances through fraudulent means. These charges, filed in the Middle District of Florida (MDFL), are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute health care fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “This enforcement action demonstrates my office’s resolve, and that of the Department of Justice, to protect these programs and the people they benefit from exploitation.”

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized, “It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a healthcare company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable. The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits.”

The MDFL cases are part of a coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action resulting in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes. These schemes reportedly resulted in over $2.75 billion in false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs intended to care for the elderly and disabled to enrich themselves. The Government seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets in connection with the enforcement action.

The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces, along with 32 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website.

The MDFL has worked with the Department’s Criminal Division and the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations.

The following individuals have been charged in the Middle District of Florida:

- **Ma Gracia Cadet**, 53, of Kissimmee, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Cadet allegedly defrauded Medicare of over $9.3 million through her durable medical equipment companies, KGA Medical Supply LLC and Sapphire Medical Supply LLC. She allegedly paid illegal kickbacks to co-conspirators at telemedicine companies in exchange for fraudulent orders for orthotic braces billed to Medicare. Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Florida Strike Force is prosecuting the case.

- **Eva LeBeau**, 65, of Clearwater, Florida, and **Lori Lebrecht**, 60, of Largo, Florida, were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks. They allegedly submitted over $2 million in false claims for home health services through Prestigious Senior Home Health Care, Inc. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Charles D. Strauss of the Florida Strike Force.

- **Robert Desselle**, 46, of Sarasota, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks. He allegedly paid marketers to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for cancer genetic testing (CGx) tests, resulting in $4.5 million in fraudulent claims. Trial Attorney Charles D. Strauss is prosecuting the case.

- **Marques Elijah Green**, 29, of Windermere, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Green allegedly defrauded Medicare of over $3.4 million through his durable medical equipment companies, Onyx Medical Supply LLC and AquaMed Supply LLC. Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.

- **Lisa Williams**, 56, of Lithia, Florida, was charged with tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. She allegedly tampered with fentanyl infusion bags at a hospital. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Pizzo is prosecuting the case.

- **Lawrence Waldman**, 57, of Miami, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to solicit and receive illegal kickbacks and bribes. Waldman allegedly submitted false claims to Medicare and received $380,000 in illegal kickbacks and bribes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.

- **Erin Kim**, 54, of Orlando, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. Kim allegedly unlawfully prescribed Adderall and other stimulants, resulting in the distribution of over 1.5 million pills. Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III is prosecuting the case.

- **Eric Brewer**, 28, of Lakeland, Florida, was charged with tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Brewer allegedly tampered with fentanyl infusion bags at multiple hospitals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon is prosecuting the case.

- **Waymon Wallace**, 63, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was charged with conspiracy to solicit and receive illegal kickbacks and bribes. Wallace allegedly submitted over $500,000 in false claims to Medicare. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.

A complaint, indictment, or information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


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