Miami Psychiatrist, Three Others Indicted in Schemes to Facilitate Government Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida:

Four Miami-Dade residents have been indicted for their participation in various schemes to defraud the United States government. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Shimon Richmond, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General, Margaret Moore-Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Robert C. Hutchinson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Linda M. Swacina, District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), made the announcement.

Fernando Mendez Villamil, 48, of South Miami, Maritza Exposito, 57, of Miami, Arnaldo Oscar Jimenez, 57, of Hialeah, and Yomara Vila, 45, of Miami were charged in a 21-count indictment for their participation in a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, the United States Social Security Administration (“SSA”), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).   The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, substantive counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and make false statements with respect to immigration matters, conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claim, theft of government funds, false statements to SSA, and making false statements with respect to immigration matters.

The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted and caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, made false and fraudulent statements and representations to the SSA regarding the medical treatment and condition of SSA disability benefits applicants and recipients, and made false and fraudulent statements and representations to USCIS regarding the status, medical treatment, and medical condition of applicants for immigration benefits. 

The indictment alleges multiple types of fraudulent practices occurred at the Miami-Dade medical office of Fernando Mendez Villamil, a State of Florida licensed psychiatrist authorized to provide health care services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.  The defendants, in exchange for money, offered to aid and aided others to fraudulently apply for and receive SSA disability benefits.  Defendant Villamil provided individuals false and fraudulent diagnoses of debilitating psychiatric conditions so that the individuals could fraudulently obtain SSA disability benefits, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

The indictment also alleges that the defendants submitted or caused the submission of false statements with respect to a material fact in applications and documents required by  immigration laws and regulations, which contained false statements with respect to a material fact, namely medical certifications for disability exceptions to the English and or civic requirements to the U.S. Naturalization process. 

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force and participating partners, including HHS-OIG, SSA-OIG, the State of Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, ICE-HSI, and USCIS.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric E. Morales and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hagerenesh Simmons.

Four Miami-Dade residents have been indicted for their participation in various schemes to defraud the United States government. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Shimon Richmond, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General, Margaret Moore-Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Robert C. Hutchinson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Linda M. Swacina, District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), made the announcement.

Fernando Mendez Villamil, 48, of South Miami, Maritza Exposito, 57, of Miami, Arnaldo Oscar Jimenez, 57, of Hialeah, and Yomara Vila, 45, of Miami were charged in a 21-count indictment for their participation in a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, the United States Social Security Administration (“SSA”), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).   The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, substantive counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and make false statements with respect to immigration matters, conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claim, theft of government funds, false statements to SSA, and making false statements with respect to immigration matters.

The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted and caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, made false and fraudulent statements and representations to the SSA regarding the medical treatment and condition of SSA disability benefits applicants and recipients, and made false and fraudulent statements and representations to USCIS regarding the status, medical treatment, and medical condition of applicants for immigration benefits. 

The indictment alleges multiple types of fraudulent practices occurred at the Miami-Dade medical office of Fernando Mendez Villamil, a State of Florida licensed psychiatrist authorized to provide health care services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.  The defendants, in exchange for money, offered to aid and aided others to fraudulently apply for and receive SSA disability benefits.  Defendant Villamil provided individuals false and fraudulent diagnoses of debilitating psychiatric conditions so that the individuals could fraudulently obtain SSA disability benefits, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

The indictment also alleges that the defendants submitted or caused the submission of false statements with respect to a material fact in applications and documents required by  immigration laws and regulations, which contained false statements with respect to a material fact, namely medical certifications for disability exceptions to the English and or civic requirements to the U.S. Naturalization process. 

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force and participating partners, including HHS-OIG, SSA-OIG, the State of Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, ICE-HSI, and USCIS.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric E. Morales and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hagerenesh Simmons.