Hialeah Clinic Company Owner Convicted in Medicare Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Miami Division, announced that a federal jury found defendant Maggie Leon, 35, of Hialeah, Florida, guilty of eight counts of health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347, and conspiracy to commit the same, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 6, 2013, before U.S. States District Judge Paul Huck.

According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Maggie Leon, through her company (Leon Medical), submitted and caused the submission of approximately $7.2 million in false claims for medical services to the seven insurance carriers and was paid more than $2.2 million. The evidence further established that the defendant and her co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to beneficiaries suffering from HIV to ensure that they would attend Leon Medical.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anissa Andrews.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.