Miami HIV Clinic Administrator and Two Miami Residents Sentenced for Their Roles in a $14 Million Medicare Fr...( WASHINGTON Nov. 18 -- Miami resident...),Health

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Miami residents Dilcia Marinez, Juan Carlos Castaneda and Luis Frias each were sentenced to prison today for their roles in defrauding the Medicare program and laundering the illegal proceeds in connection with a $14 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced.

Marinez, who pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2008, to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was sentenced to 57 months in prison, three years of probation and payment of a $24,000 fine. Marinez was also ordered to pay $43,000 in forfeiture. Castaneda, who pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on Aug. 27, 2008, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, three years of probation and payment of a $100 special assessment. Frias, who on Sept. 23, 2008, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, three years of probation and payment of a $100 special assessment. All three defendants pleaded guilty before, and were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Federico Moreno in Miami.

In her plea, Marinez admitted that she was the president and director of G&S Medical Center Inc. (G&S), a Miami health care clinic. G&S purported to provide HIV infusion services to disabled Medicare beneficiaries. Marinez admitted that from May 2003 through January 2004, she conspired with others to defraud the Medicare program by causing G&S to submit fraudulent claims for HIV services that were medically unnecessary or never provided.

According to information contained in plea documents, Marinez admitted that she entered into an agreement in approximately May 2003 with Carlos Benitez, Luis Benitez, Thomas McKenzie and others to operate G&S
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