A podiatrist and sales representative were each sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, according to an April 13 news release from the Justice Department.
Felipe Ruiz, DPM, was the sole owner of a multilocation practice in California, and Jose Aguirre was a sales representative who sold skin grafts to Dr. Ruiz and the practice.
Between June 2021 and January 2024, Dr. Ruiz allowed Mr. Aguirre to apply skin grafts and perform other procedures on patients at West Coast Podiatry. Mr. Aguirre would perform procedures without physician supervision.
Dr. Ruiz and Mr. Aguirre submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Medi-Cal, claiming that Dr. Ruiz and other physicians completed procedures that were actually performed by Mr. Aguirre, according to the Justice Department.
About $3.2 million in false claims were submitted by Dr. Ruiz between 2021 and 2024.
The judge ordered forfeiture of nine properties owned by Mr. Aguirre and Dr. Ruiz, as well as a $2.6 million personal forfeiture money judgement against Mr. Aguirre and a $12.1 million personal forfeiture money judgement against Dr. Ruiz, the release said.
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