A Cuban woman has been arrested in Miami-Dade, accused of participating in a Medicare fraud scheme. She allegedly bribed patients regularly to make fraudulent claims to the health insurance program, according to a police report. At least five beneficiaries of the health coverage plan identified Margelys Moreira Pino, 50, as the person who paid them between $200 and $600 each in bribes just for attending psychosocial rehabilitation services, stated a report by Local 10 News.
The arrest warrant, signed last Tuesday by Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Miguel M. de la O, indicates that Moreira carried out the fraud while serving as the operations manager at the Hathor Wellcare Center, located at 14269 SW 42 St., in Miami. Moreira was “the only person responsible for paying the bribes, which were in cash, placed inside a white envelope,” confirmed Ariel Pérez, a police investigator with the Attorney General's Office.
Between January 1, 2020, and July 12, 2023, the accused allegedly paid more than $15,600 in bribes, resulting in over $104,000 in fraudulent claims billed to Medicaid. Records from Hathor Wellcare Center show that, besides being the operations manager, Moreira was also a senior vice president of the Florida corporation and the registered agent of Hathor Investment Group.
Moreira was detained on Thursday and held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) in Miami-Dade. She faces a charge of Medicaid fraud/filing false claims. On Friday, she appeared in court, and the judge set her bail at $50,000.
The Cuban woman hails from Playa Larga in the province of Matanzas, as confirmed by her social media profiles. The charge against Moreira is part of a nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud, announced by the Department of Justice last Thursday, which uncovered a vast scheme to submit false health care claims exceeding $2.75 billion.
The investigations led to the arrest of 193 individuals, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners, and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged involvement in various fraud schemes across 32 federal districts in the United States.
Understanding the Medicare Fraud Case in Miami-Dade
Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent Medicare fraud case involving Margelys Moreira Pino in Miami-Dade, which may help clarify the situation.
What were the alleged actions of Margelys Moreira Pino?
Margelys Moreira Pino is accused of bribing patients to make fraudulent claims to Medicare, resulting in over $104,000 in false claims.
How much money did Moreira allegedly pay in bribes?
She allegedly paid more than $15,600 in bribes between January 1, 2020, and July 12, 2023.
What was Moreira's role at Hathor Wellcare Center?
Moreira served as the operations manager and was responsible for paying the bribes. She was also a senior vice president and registered agent of Hathor Investment Group.