Two indicted for Medicare scam

MIAMI — The U.S. attorney’s health care fraud strike force has produced two more indictments.

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said Wednesday that Alicia Rodriguez and Juan Viera, owners of two Miami medical equipment companies, each have been charged with five counts of mail fraud and four counts of money laundering in connection with a $11 million Medicare billing scam.

The two allegedly used R&N Medical Supplies Inc. and A&S Medical Services Inc. to submit more than $11 million in fraudulent Medicare claims over a five-week period in 2006.

The scam came to the attention of authorities when a  $110,000 bank withdrawal was made on an R&N account by an individual purportedly a company officer. The “officer” was living in a small efficiency without air conditioning or running water, and when served with a subpoena demanding the company’s business records, admitted that she was not the owner of the firm.

She did, however, agree to wear a wire and meet with Rodriguez to discuss the indictment. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Rodriguez told the woman to lie to authorities and the grand jury. Rodriguez also gave her a $4,600 check and a trip to Puerto Rico.

Both Rodriguez and Viera were being held without bond.