|
|
Fla. man pleads not guilty in Medicare fraud case
MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida man has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars in a massive Medicare fraud scheme.
Prosecutors say 46-year-old Oscar Sanchez conspired to send money from Medicare fraud to shell companies in Canada before it was passed on to a Trinidad bank and then to Cuba. Prosecutors say he gave cash to the fraud ringleaders who did not want their money traced.
Sanchez was born in Cuba and is a U.S. citizen. He appeared in federal court in Miami on Friday, and his attorney entered the not guilty plea.
Sanchez is being held in federal custody because prosecutors consider him a flight risk.
Prosecutors are seeking more than $22 million in property from Sanchez.
If convicted, he could face 13 years in prison.
(Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
