Maricel Beatriz Hernandez

In December 2007, a 38-count indictment was filed charging Eugenio R. Hernandez, Maricel B. Hernandez, and Jorge Ramirez with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering.

According to court documents, Eugenio Hernandez was the reported owner of S.L. Medical Center, Inc.; Maricel Hernandez was the reported owner of Care Medical Office, Inc.; and Jorge Ramirez was the reported owner of the Rehabilitation Institute and Science Clinic, Inc. All three companies operated in the greater Miami area and purportedly provided infusion therapy to Medicare patients suffering from blood disorders and other conditions.

Investigators believe that these companies billed Medicare more than $110 million between April and December 2005 for infusion therapy services that were never provided to patients. After receiving payments from Medicare, the defendants allegedly laundered the fraudulently obtained funds through various shell companies to conceal the scheme to defraud and use the funds for their personal benefit.

Eugenio and Maricel Hernandez fled the country and are believed to be residing in Cuba.

Ramirez was captured in December 2008 at Miami International Airport. He pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and is serving his nearly 6-year jail sentence. Ramirez was also ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution.