A Florida businesswoman settled out of criminal and civil charges stemming from what prosecutors say was a health care scheme involving the submission of $400 million worth of false medical equipment claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
A Florida woman first questioned by Contact 5 investigators about dozens of bogus medical supply companies she owned has pleaded guilty to a Medicare fraud scheme worth $400 million.
Tampa, FL Kelly Wolfe (Indian Rocks Beach) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and filing a false tax return. She faces a maximum penalty of 13 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
In addition to her criminal charges, Wolfe and her company, Regency, Inc. ( Regency ) have agreed to pay up to $20,332,516, to resolve allegations that Wolfe and Regency violated the False Claims Act in a number of ways, including falsifying documentation in order to fraudulently establish durable medical equipment ( DME ) corporations to bill for medically unnecessary DME equipment, and engaging in improper marketing practices that violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. The civil settlement amount is based on Wolfe and Regency s ability to pay.