U.S. sentences former Cuban Army official to more than 3 years in prison for fraud

U.S. sentences former Cuban Army official to more than 3 years in prison for fraud

2011-01-14 09:29:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) -- The United States on Thursday sentenced a former Cuban Army officer to more than three years in prison for health care fraud, prosecutors said.

Renier Vicente Rodriguez Fleitas, 60, was convicted of conspiring to commit health care fraud. He pleaded guilty to his offense on October 28, 2010. Rodriguez is a former Cuban Lieutenant Colonel.

According to the plea agreement, the defendant admitted that in November 2009, he purchased Pirifer Medical Supplies while doing business as Pirifer Pharmacy and Discount, located in Hialeah, Florida.

Rodriguez admitted that he opened three bank accounts and completed many Part D Medicare applications with plan administrators on behalf of Pirifer Medical Supplies company.

The former colonel, a Miami-Dade County resident, submitted approximately $1.8 million in fraudulent claims to various Part D plan administrators, and received approximately $135,930 from Medicare.

The fraud lasted from December 2009 until March 2010. After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rodriguez was arrested on September 9, 2010.

The Former Lieutenant Colonel was sentenced to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to pay $135,930 in restitution for his role in the health care fraud conspiracy.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-14