A two-week nationwide law enforcement action has resulted in criminal charges being filed against ten individuals, including nine from Florida, for participating in healthcare fraud and opioid abuse schemes totaling over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. Among the accused are Ma Gracia Cadet, Eva LeBeau, Lori Lebrecht, Robert Desselle, Marques Elijah Green, Lisa Williams, Lawrence Waldman, Erin Kim, Eric Brewer and Waymon Wallace.
The suspects are accused of defrauding programs meant to care for the elderly and disabled through various healthcare schemes. This resulted in the seizure of over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold and other assets. One of the accused, Eric Brewer allegedly stole fentanyl intended for patient use in Tampa hospitals and injected himself with the illegal substance. Lisa Williams is accused of tampering with fentanyl infusion bags at a hospital. Others such as Cadet, LaBeau, Desselle and Green are accused of fraudulently obtaining millions in Medicare funds through fraudulent insurance claims.
Lawrence Waldman is accused of making fraudulent claims to Medicare and receiving nearly $380 thousand in illegal kickbacks and bribes. Erin Kim is accused of prescribing over 1.5 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants receiving over $800 thousand in return. These arrests and charges are part of a broader crackdown on healthcare fraud and abuse across the country.
