A Cuban national residing in Miami-Dade County, Florida, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his involvement in a scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $3.2 million through a sham durable medical equipment company, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition to the prison sentence, Julián López, aged 55, has been ordered to pay $1,496,412 in restitution for the losses incurred from the scam, according to the ruling issued by the judge on May 20th.
In February 2025, López admitted his guilt to two charges of healthcare fraud. Court documents reveal that the Cuban national acquired Medicare beneficiary identification cards and sold their personal information to One Medical Services, a durable medical equipment (DME) supply firm, fully aware that these details would be used to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare.
The information López provided was used by One Medical Services to bill Medicare for orthopedic devices that were never delivered to the beneficiaries, according to the Justice Department's statement. As part of this fraudulent scheme, the company filed or caused the filing of more than $3.2 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary equipment.
This case adds to the increasing number of healthcare fraud incidents in South Florida, many of which involve Cuban citizens or individuals with connections to Cuba.
In a related case, Cuban citizen Fernando Espinosa León, aged 60, residing in Florida, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison after being found guilty of Medicare fraud amounting to over $7.6 million and aggravated identity theft, using his company as a front. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of $4,013,148.76 obtained through his criminal activities.
Around the same period, Edelberto Borges Morales, a 62-year-old Cuban businessman from Hialeah, faced charges for allegedly laundering $1.9 million as part of a scheme that defrauded the healthcare program of $41 million, with some funds reportedly sent to Cuba. Borges was apprehended by federal agents while attempting to board a flight to Varadero on March 20th. The investigation suggested that he made approximately 35 trips between Miami and Cuba over two years, raising suspicions that some money was transferred to the island.
The Cuban businessman is facing a federal charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Understanding Healthcare Fraud in South Florida
What was Julián López's role in the Medicare fraud scheme?
Julián López was involved in obtaining Medicare beneficiary identification cards and selling their personal information to a company that used this data to file fraudulent claims to Medicare.
How much money was involved in the fraudulent claims filed by One Medical Services?
The fraudulent scheme led to more than $3.2 million in false claims being filed with Medicare for equipment that was not medically necessary.
What were the consequences for Fernando Espinosa León?
Fernando Espinosa León was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison and ordered to forfeit over $4 million obtained through Medicare fraud and identity theft.
What charges is Edelberto Borges Morales facing?
Edelberto Borges Morales is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.