Houston Doctor Indicted for Alleged $30 Million COVID Fraud Scheme
Dr. Joseph A. Montes, 66, a Houston-area doctor, has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a multi-year scheme to fraudulently bill the federal government for medical services that were reportedly never provided. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas announced the charges, which include conspiracy to defraud the United States, five counts of wire fraud, and six counts of money laundering. Prosecutors claim that between 2020 and 2022, Montes and his clinics submitted approximately $30 million in false claims to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HSRA), with $20 million ultimately paid out. The indictment alleges that Montes allowed a co-conspirator to operate COVID testing sites under his name. At these sites, the co-conspirator purportedly charged HSRA for office visits for each patient who only came for COVID testing, without receiving any actual medical treatment. In one instance, over 9,000 claims for federal rei...
