EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An El Paso woman was sentenced in federal court to nearly five years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Western District of Texas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Edelmira Marquez, 59, engaged in “fraudulent billing practices” as the owner of Marquez Medical Supply, which is a medical equipment company in El Paso.
“Marquez’s scheme involved substituting and providing lesser valued items to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries/patients, then billing Medicaid and Medicare for the greater valued items. The items were primarily continence supplies including adult diapers, wipes and bed liners,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Marquez was summoned to court on Dec. 21, 2023, and made her initial appearance on Jan. 19, and was released on bond.
Marquez pleaded guilty to the single count back in March and upon sentencing, she was remanded into federal custody.
Marquez was also fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $1,739,608.59 in restitution to Medicaid.
The FBI and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.
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