Florida

77 in South Florida Charged in Massive Health Fraud Crackdown

Dozens of people from South Florida were among the hundreds charged across the country for their participation in health care fraud and opioid schemes involving approximately $1.3 billion in false billings, prosecutors said Thursday.

A total of 77 people are facing charges related to the scheme in South Florida, which involved more than $141 million in false billings, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Many of the suspects charged in South Florida are pharmacy owners and operators, authorities said.

"Health care fraud schemes have real, long-term consequences for our South Florida community," Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg said in a statement. "Patients are being denied the quality of care that they deserve, doctors are turning a blind eye to their oaths, and taxpayer money is being diverted into the pockets of the greedy."

More than 400 were charged nationwide in what Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the "largest health care fraud takedown operation in American history."

Contact Us