The owner of a Texas hospice chain, who was convicted of falsely telling thousands of patients with incurable diseases they had less than six months to live, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $120 million in restitution, the Department of Justice announced Dec. 16.
Rodney Mesquias was sentenced about one year after he was convicted of healthcare fraud, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks.
From 2009 to 2018, Mr. Mesquias orchestrated a scheme that involved $150 million in false claims for hospice and other healthcare services. The claims were submitted through Merida Group, a hospice company with dozens of locations in Texas that was owned by Mr. Mesquias.
Source: Owner of Texas hospice chain gets 20 years in prison for $150M fraud / Becker’s Hospital Review