Healthcare fraud cases involve millions in Medicare and Medicaid losses

A federal jury has convicted Joseph Rodriguez, 50, of a COVID-19 testing fraud scheme that resulted in $15.7 million in Medicare claims. Rodriguez, a resident of Coral Springs, Florida, operated Phoenix Health Rising, LLC. During 2020, he organized drive-through testing events at residential country clubs in the West Palm Beach area. While residents sought nasal swabs and antibody tests, prosecutors proved that Rodriguez directed employees to perform hundreds of unnecessary blood tests, including hormone and heavy metal testing, without doctor orders.

Medicare paid more than $500,000 in fraudulent claims related to the scheme, which affected nearly 2,000 patients. Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison per charge, with sentencing scheduled for January 2027.

In a separate case, Marcus Jones, 31, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, has been charged with a Class A felony for Medicaid fraud. Investigators allege Jones billed Arkansas Medicaid for more than $245,000 for services that were never provided, including billing for excessive hours that could not fit within a single day. Jones is presumed innocent pending court proceedings.