A Miami man who participated in an $11 million Medicare fraud scam has been extradited to the United States after being captured in Spain, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Francisco Chavez was indicted in February 2011 on charges of health care fraud, criminal forfeiture and aggravated identity theft.
Authorities say he submitted more than $11 million in claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment that was never provided to Medicare beneficiaries. At the time, he was president of World Class Medical Services, a Miami-based company that sold supplies like motorized wheelchairs and pressure support ventilators.
“Investigators believe that from March through August 2006, World Class submitted more than $11 million in claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment supplies,” the release states. “As a result, World Class was paid approximately $1.7 million by Medicare. However, beneficiaries complained that they never received any of the items billed to Medicare by World Class.”
Chavez was arrested on narcotics charges at the Barajas Airport in Spain and arrived at Atlanta International Airport on Aug. 30 under the custody of U.S. marshals, an OIG release states. He was then transferred to Miami, where he awaits prosecution.