Fernando Espinosa Leon, 60, a Cuban national, has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a healthcare fraud and identity theft scheme. The sentencing, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida on March 24, stems from Espinosa Leon’s fraudulent activities between June and September 2020.
Espinosa Leon was found guilty of defrauding Medicare through his company, Global Medical Supply Inc., which was used to carry out his illegal operations. He stole the personally identifiable information (PII) of Medicare beneficiaries and medical practitioners in order to submit false claims. These claims were for durable medical equipment (DME), which he falsely claimed had been prescribed and supplied.
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary DME such as walkers, oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, and hospital beds, typically rented or purchased depending on the item. However, Espinosa Leon fraudulently billed Medicare for these items, despite the fact that they had not been prescribed or provided.
Using a third-party biller, Espinosa Leon submitted more than $7.6 million in fraudulent claims. His actions resulted in over $4 million being deposited into an account under his control, money that was illegally obtained from Medicare.
As part of his sentence, Espinosa Leon was also ordered to forfeit $4,013,148.76, the amount of money he fraudulently obtained. He pleaded guilty to the charges on December 6, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the seriousness of Espinosa Leon’s offenses and the impact of his actions on Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers. His conviction serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat healthcare fraud and protect public resources from abuse.
