Miami Jury Convicts Medical Company Owner of Medi...( Fifth Trial Conviction for Medica...),Health

Fifth Trial Conviction for Medicare Strike Force Since March

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal jury in Miami has convicted the owner and operator of Direct Nursing Assistance Inc. of Medicare fraud, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced today.

After a four day trial, Rodolfo Aenlle, 47, was found guilty on all counts of conspiracy, fraud, taking kickbacks, and related charges. U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks of the Southern District of Florida remanded Aenlle into immediate custody following the verdict.

Aenlle faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13, 2007.

Aenlle owned and operated Direct Nursing Assistance Inc. from October of 2001 through June of 2006. The jury heard testimony that Aenlle paid cash kickbacks to patients and physicians as part of his scheme to defraud Medicare. While Aenlle was president of Direct Nursing Assistance, the company submitted claims to Medicare for $1 million. Evidence at trial established that Aenlle had prescription pads printed, and forged the names and signatures of physicians. Trial exhibits confirmed that Aenlle had 130 paid patients at Direct Nursing who received services and drugs that they did not need. Many of the phony prescriptions were for non-commercially available aerosol medications so that they could be illegally "compounded." Compounding is the process of a pharmacist making medication as opposed to a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

The jury found that Aenlle conspired with the owners of Unimed Pharmacy to refer paid patients to the pharmacy in exchange for half of what Medicare paid for compounded aerosols. One of the patients testified during trial that Aenlle paid her $150 per month to use her Medicare card and to obtain phony prescriptions in her name. Unimed Pharmacy fraudulently billed Medicar
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