Fla. man pleads not guilty in Medicare fraud case
Jun 22, 2012, 5:55 PM
Associated Press
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.
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