Former Texas Politician, Wife Convicted In Medicare/Medicaid Billing Fraud

A federal jury in McAllen, Texas on Monday convicted former Hidalgo County Commissioner Guadalupe Garces Jr. and his wife, Araceli Garces on one count of conspiracy and several substantive counts of health fraud. They used their Edinburg, Texas ambulance company A-Stat Ambulance Inc. to transport people to and from dialysis clinics knowing that transportation by ambulance was not medically necessary. They billed Medicare and Medicaid $12 million and received $4.5 million in payments. Then after Medicare and Medicaid suspended payments, they incorporated  A-Care E.M.S. Inc. in the name of their 20 year old son and continued the scheme, billing another $3 million and receiving $1.6 million in payments. US District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa scheduled sentencing for July 18 and allowed the couple to remain free on their current bonds. They could face up to 10 years in prison (AP, DOJ).