A father and son have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme that attempted to defraud Medicare out of $46 million.
Anthony Bell Sr., 55, and Anthony Bell Jr., 33, both of El Cajon, Calif., conspired with others to commit fraud by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary durable equipment, according to a March 11 Justice Department news release. Medicare paid more than $21 million of the $46 million it received in fraudulent claims.
The pair created companies that supplied durable medical equipment and to find customers, the pair entered into sham contracts with purported marketing companies that instead provided packets of information about Medicare beneficiaries for $125 to $350 each, according to the release. The packets included Medicare beneficiaries' personal information and signed prescriptions from physicians. The pair bought thousands of patient packets.
Mr. Bell Sr. was sentenced to 65 months in prison and was ordered to pay more than $21.7 million in restitution to Medicare, forfeit more than $800,000 and a house, according to the release. Mr. Bell Jr. was sentenced to one year in prison.