Attorney General James Uthmeier today announced the arrests of two individuals in connection with a scheme to defraud Florida’s Medicaid program out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through fraudulent non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) claims.
Hector Luis Sanchez Gonzalez and Juan Carlos Vilchez Montiel were taken into custody for their alleged roles in the coordinated operation.
According to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the pair is accused of submitting fraudulent NEMT claims by deliberately inflating mileage.
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The scheme involved drivers reportedly paying Medicaid recipients, either in cash or via Cash App, to use pickup locations significantly further from their actual addresses. This manipulation artificially boosted the reported mileage, leading to increased reimbursement from the Medicaid program.
“Florida’s Medicaid program is not there to line the pockets of fraudsters gaming the system,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “My office will continue to hold criminals accountable, protect taxpayer dollars, and stop those who think they can cheat the people of Florida without consequence.”
The arrests followed warrants secured by the Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in taking the individuals into custody.
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The investigation revealed that GPS data contradicted more than 8,000 trips claimed by Sanchez Gonzalez, showing he was at his own residence instead of transporting patients. He has reportedly admitted to knowingly submitting false claims and indicated he was able to pay recipients due to the profits generated from the inflated mileage reimbursements.
Authorities state that from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2023, Sanchez Gonzalez’s fraudulent activities resulted in a loss of $134,568.02 to the Medicaid program. During the same period, Vilchez Montiel’s scheme allegedly caused a loss of $211,239.27.
Both Sanchez Gonzalez and Vilchez Montiel are each facing one count of Scheme to Defraud, a first-degree felony. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison.
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