In a major healthcare fraud scheme, ten individuals have been charged by the Department of Justice. Nine of the accused are from Florida, while the other one is from California. The two-week national law enforcement action targeted 193 defendants who are alleged to have participated in healthcare fraud and opioid abuse schemes worth over $2.75 billion in false billings.
The suspects are accused of defrauding programs meant to care for the elderly and disabled through various healthcare schemes, resulting in the seizure of over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets. Among those arrested and charged in Florida are Ma Gracia Cadet, Eva LeBeau, Lori Lebrecht, Robert Desselle, Marques Elijah Green, Lisa Williams, Lawrence Waldman, Erin Kim, Eric Brewer, and Waymon Wallace.
Eric Brewer is accused of stealing fentanyl intended for patient use in Tampa hospitals and injecting himself with the illegal substance. Lisa Williams is accused of tampering with fentanyl infusion bags at a hospital. Others such as Cadet, LaBeau, Desselle and Green are accused of fraudulently obtaining millions in Medicare funds through fraudulent insurance claims.
Lawrence Waldman is also accused of making fraudulent claims to Medicare and receiving nearly $380