AG Bondi's Office Announces Arrests of Miami-Dade County Residents for Medicaid Fraud

Attorney General Pam Bondis Medicaid Fraud Control Unitand the Miami-Dade County Police Department today arrested three Miami-DadeCounty residents for Medicaid fraud and grand theft. Noriel Batista, theowner of Westchester Pharmacy, Eduardo Marcos-Mone, a pharmacist, andBarbara Iglesias, a Medicaid recipient, allegedly participated in a schemethat resulted in billing the Medicaid program for more than $143,000 forprescribed medications that were never dispensed.

Billing the Medicaid program for prescriptions that were never dispensedis not only unethical, but also it essentially steals taxpayer dollars,stated Bondi in a press release. Thanks to our great partnership withthe Miami-Dade Police Department, we were able to uphold the integrity ofFloridas Medicaid program.

According to the investigation, between 2008 and 2011, Westchester Pharmacyrecruited Medicaid recipients by offering cash payments for prescriptionsin lieu of receiving their prescribed medications. Batista would then billthe Medicaid program for the medications that were never actuallydispensed.

Batista and Marcos-Mone are each charged with one count of first-degreeMedicaid fraud and one count of first-degree grand theft. If convicted,Batista and Marcos-Mone each face up to 60 years in prison and more than$375,000 in fines. Iglesias is charged with one count of third-degreeMedicaid fraud and one count of third-degree grand theft. If convicted, shefaces up to 10 years in prison and more than $20,000 in fines.