TRENTON, New Jersey—A Florida man admitted his role in a durable medical equipment (DME) health care fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.
Christopher Vehovec of Miami Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Vehovec and his conspirators solicited and received kickbacks and bribes in exchange for providing DME companies with completed doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary DME, such as orthotic braces.
Vehovec and his conspirators utilized telemedicine companies’ services to obtain these prescriptions for DME, and the DME orders were fraudulently billed to Medicare and other health care benefit programs.
Vehovec and his conspirators caused losses of at least $4.2 million to Medicare and other health care benefit programs.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Vehovec’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2025.
