Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Mortgage Fraud Leads to Prison Sentence
When mortgage companies defraud the federal government or the state, they incur huge risks. One Miami-area mortgage company owner recently learned that lesson the hard way. Hector Hernandez owned and operated Great Country Mortgage Bankers, a mortgage lender in Miami. After a recent guilty plea, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for… Read More »
Major South Florida Hospital Group Reaches Fraud Settlement
The public hospital group Broward Health recently voted to reach a settlement with the Department of Justice reaching almost $70 million. The payout stems from a four-year federal investigation into alleged widespread Medicare and Medicaid fraud throughout the hospital system. The investigation started after federal authorities received an anonymous tip. In 2011 Department of… Read More »
Term Limits Proposed for Florida Judges
In a move meant to limit the influence of a single judge in the appellate process, the Florida legislature has introduced a bill to limit the terms of appellate judges. Senator Travis Hutson and Representative John Wood have filed companion legislation that would limit appellate judges and state Supreme Court justices to two-six year… Read More »
Florida Medicare Fraud Goes Beyond Borders
Another tactic used by suspected Medicare fraudsters has piqued the attention of state and federal authorities looking to crack down on Medicare fraud. This strategy, known as the foreign-enrollment loophole, occurs when Medicare is paid to individuals living abroad. In general, Medicare is not available outside the U.S., except for certain emergency situations. Thus,… Read More »
South Florida Tops Charts for Organized Fraud
Multiple reports and studies have found that the state of Florida, specifically South Florida, is number one in the country for various forms of organized fraud. The Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County areas have been found over the last decade to have the highest numbers in organized fraud. The three big trends in this… Read More »
In Florida, Eight More Charged in NFL Securities Scheme
In what is becoming a new focus for U.S. Attorneys, eight additional individuals were recently indicted in relation to a securities fraud scheme allegedly operating here in South Florida. The eight individuals were part of a scheme to target elderly persons and convince them to purchase stock in two companies, one of which is… Read More »
Latest Report Reveals Increasing Problem of Medicare Prescription Fraud
As the federal government continues to focus on sweeping fraud out of the Medicare system, the latest report from the Department of Health and Human Services’s Office of Inspector General highlights how big a problem fraud has become in the popular Medicare prescription program. What does this mean for the average health care professional?… Read More »
Biggest Health Care Fraud Takedown Just Happened in Miami
In what is being touted as the largest health care fraud takedown in U.S. history, over 70 individuals were arrested in Miami recently. The Florida Attorney General, the FBI, and other federal agencies all worked jointly to arrest 73 individuals involved in various health care fraud schemes. This was a massive operation that encompassed… Read More »
SEC Clawing Back Executive Compensation
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently reached a settlement with the large IT company, Computer Sciences Corp. The company has agreed to pay $190 million to the Commission, and the former chief executive officer is providing $3.7 million in compensation as part of a settlement for financial fraud charges. Computer Sciences has neither admitted… Read More »
Check Fraud Ring Busted in Central Florida
Local authorities in Central Florida recently shut down a seven-county check fraud ring. Over two dozen perpetrators were arrested for an operation that affected at least 80 victims. Check fraud is a type of bank fraud that takes many forms. Fake check scams, trafficking in stolen checks, embezzlement, and “check kiting” are a few… Read More »