MIAMI, Florida — Three South Florida men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud Medicare and launder over $2.2 million in illicit proceeds.
Marco Scamarone, a 34-year-old from Tamarac, received a 70-month prison sentence. Jose Mendez, also 34, from Coral Springs, was sentenced to 78 months, while Renee Vazquez, a 33-year-old from Tamarac, was sentenced to 60 months, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
“These defendants stole from Medicare, laundered the proceeds through shell companies, and used fraudulent medical equipment businesses to enrich themselves at taxpayer expense,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Medicare exists to serve seniors and vulnerable patients, not to fund kickbacks, shell companies, and criminal profit.”…