Medical Equipment Company Owners Accused of Falsifying Physician Orders Pay $191,606 to Settle Civil Claims Against Them and Their Company
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 20, 2009 |
SACRAMENTO, CA—United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that the Federal Government has entered into a settlement agreement with SHIRLEY M. ESTRADA and MARCUS R. ESTRADA, along with their related business, Aristo-Care, Inc.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Swann, who litigated the civil case, the ESTRADAs through their company Aristo-Care, Inc., supplied durable medical equipment to beneficiaries under the government-funded Medi-Cal program. The government alleged the ESTRADAs fraudulently charged Medi-Cal for various incontinence supplies. Specifically, the government contended the ESTRADAs forged physician signatures and fraudulently used physician provider numbers in order to receive reimbursement under the Medi-Cal program.
The ESTRADAs have agreed to pay the government $191,606 to settle this civil case, but deny any liability or wrongdoing.