Edelmira Marquez, 59, the owner of Marquez Medical Supply (MMS) in El Paso, Texas, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for her role in a large-scale healthcare fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced today.
Marquez was found guilty of substituting lower-cost medical supplies for more expensive items promised to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. She then submitted fraudulent bills for the higher-cost items, which mainly included continence supplies such as adult diapers, wipes, and bed liners.
Marquez’s company, MMS, had been a longstanding provider of home healthcare equipment in El Paso, catering to individuals requiring durable medical products. However, during her fraudulent activities, she billed Medicaid and Medicare for more than $1.7 million in claims for supplies that were never provided or were of lesser value.
Marquez pleaded guilty to a single count of healthcare fraud on March 7, 2024, after initially appearing in court in January 2024. Upon her sentencing, Marquez was taken into federal custody. In addition to her prison sentence, she was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $1,739,608.59 to Medicaid. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of authorities to combat fraud in the healthcare sector.
