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Local Physician Indicted in $30 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

HOUSTON – A 66-year-old Houston physician is accused of participating in a scheme that fraudulently billed the federal government millions of dollars for medical services that were never provided. Authorities have now taken Dr. Joseph A. Montes into custody. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 10 a.m. today. A federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment Sept. 30, which is now unsealed. It alleges that between 2020 and 2022, Montes and others submitted false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration for office visits that were never provided.

Read more on www.justice.gov

Action Details

  • Date:Oct. 6, 2026, 1:11 p.m.
  • Agency:U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
  • Enforcement Types:
    • COVID-19,
    • Criminal and Civil Actions