12 New Defendants Charged in Southern District of Florida as Part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has announced charges against 12 additional defendants as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The new cases include physicians, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals accused of participating in schemes involving more than $22 million in fraudulent billing.

Among those charged is a Miami-area physician who allegedly operated a scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary wound care procedures. The doctor reportedly paid illegal kickbacks to marketers who recruited patients and referred them for treatment. Another defendant, a nurse practitioner, faces allegations of prescribing unnecessary durable medical equipment and billing Medicare for services never rendered. In a third case, a physical therapy clinic owner is accused of billing for therapy sessions that were never provided and falsifying patient records to conceal the fraud. The defendants face a range of charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and money laundering.

This case reflects the government’s continued focus on healthcare fraud in South Florida, a region historically targeted for enforcement actions. The investigation was conducted by the HHS Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Individuals with knowledge of Medicare fraud, illegal kickback arrangements, or other fraudulent billing practices are encouraged to consult experienced whistleblower attorneys.