Two South Florida Men Sentenced for $34.8 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Kenneth Charles Kessler III of Miami and Michael Andrew Gomez of Miramar have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a $34.8 million Medicare fraud scheme. The two men owned and operated seven durable medical equipment supply companies in Florida. Through these companies, they submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces. Kessler profited over $1.4 million, and Gomez profited over $2.3 million from the fraudulent activities. Both individuals pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Kessler received a 33-month prison sentence, while Gomez was sentenced to 24 months. The scheme involved paying illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed doctors' orders, which were then used to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, even to those who did not request or need them. Payments for these braces were subsequently claimed from Medicare. 
