MIAMI, Florida — A federal jury in Miami has convicted two healthcare executives for their involvement in a scheme that led to approximately $34 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage plans. The convictions, handed down on December 22, 2025, involve charges related to unnecessary durable medical equipment.
Michael Kochen, a 42-year-old, and Sandro Herek, a 56-year-old, were found guilty of targeting Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through deceptive telemarketing practices, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial. The scheme involved pressuring elderly individuals to accept medical equipment they did not need, resulting in more than $17 million being paid out by Medicare Advantage plans on fraudulent claims.
“This case was simple at its core,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants exploited trust and age, using pressure tactics and fake medical justifications to push unnecessary equipment onto elderly patients who deserved better. The jury saw through it. This verdict sends a clear message that schemes targeting seniors and abusing our healthcare system will be met with accountability and real consequences.”…