OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged the owners of a diabetic supply company with 115-counts of Medicaid fraud, after the couple filed false claims to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
According to the indictment, Eunja Vasquez, 55, and Lawrence Vasquez, 61, owners of Mercy Diabetic Supply, Inc., not affiliated with Mercy health system, falsified Medicaid claims for insulin pump supplies for patients who didn’t use insulin pumps for treating their diabetes. Additionally, some of the claims were filed for patients who didn’t have diabetes.
An insulin pump is a medical device used to administer insulin in treating diabetes.
It is also alleged that the couple falsified medial forms and forged physician signatures as part of their operation.
Attorney General Hunter’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case and brought the charges to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
Attorney General Hunter said his office is dedicated to working with federal prosecutors to pursue individuals and companies committing fraud in the state.
“I commend the attorneys and investigators in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, who worked tirelessly on this case,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Our office remains committed to fighting fraud, waste and abuse of the state’s Medicaid program that helps vulnerable Oklahomans. I appreciate U.S. Attorney Mark Yancey and his team for taking this case.”
U.S. Attorney Yancey said his office will continue its partnership with state agencies and state law enforcement to prevent fraud and corruption.
If convicted, the Vasquezes could each be imprisoned for a maximum of ten years on each count and three years of probation following their release. The two could also be fined up to $250,000 on each count, including mandatory restitution.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
A copy of the indictment can be found, here: http://bit.ly/2jfakV7.