Florida Man Pleads Guilty to $8M Medicare Fraud Scheme

Corey Alston, a Florida man, has pleaded guilty to a Medicare fraud scheme where he conspired to buy Medicare beneficiary identification numbers. Using this stolen information, he submitted false claims for COVID-19 test kits that the beneficiaries did not order, leading to an estimated $8.4 million in false claims. Over a span of seven months from July 2022 to February 2023, his fraudulent activities resulted in Medicare paying out over $2.6 million. Alston profited over $2.3 million from this scheme and is scheduled for sentencing on July 9, facing a maximum of five years in prison.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has highlighted this case as part of its crack down on healthcare fraud, particularly during the pandemic when such fraudulent activities have surged. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding Medicare beneficiary information and the legal repercussions of committing fraud against government programs.