Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud; Health Care Fraud; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering; Money Laundering; Aggravated Identity Theft
Ramon Fonseca and his partners, Orlin M. Tamayo Quinonez and Juan Carralero, are wanted for allegedly conspiring in a scheme to defraud the Medicare program out of tens of millions of dollars. The fraudulent scheme originated in South Florida, but more than a dozen fake clinics were set up across Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. From approximately 2007 to 2009, using stolen identities and bribing physicians, the fraudsters submitted false claims to Medicare to seek reimbursement for more than $50 million for services not rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. The bogus claims related primarily to HIV infusion therapy.
In 2009, a Medicare Fraud Strike Force began an investigation, codenamed Operation Universal Money Fast, to stop the fraud and arrest the perpetrators. Since then, twelve of the perpetrators have received significant sentences and are serving time. However, Fonseca and his partners, Tamayo Quinonez and Carralero, remain at large.
On June 18, 2009, a Federal Grand Jury for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, returned an indictment charging Fonseca with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and aggravated identity theft; and charging Tamayo Quinonez and Carralero with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Federal warrants were issued for their arrests.
Fonseca has ties to Venezuela, Spain, and the South Florida area. He is believed to be living currently in Venezuela.
In 2009, a Medicare Fraud Strike Force began an investigation, codenamed Operation Universal Money Fast, to stop the fraud and arrest the perpetrators. Since then, twelve of the perpetrators have received significant sentences and are serving time. However, Fonseca and his partners, Tamayo Quinonez and Carralero, remain at large.
On June 18, 2009, a Federal Grand Jury for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, returned an indictment charging Fonseca with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and aggravated identity theft; and charging Tamayo Quinonez and Carralero with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Federal warrants were issued for their arrests.
Fonseca has ties to Venezuela, Spain, and the South Florida area. He is believed to be living currently in Venezuela.
