Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(111,312 posts)
Fri Nov 15, 2019, 04:47 AM Nov 2019

Three South Florida Residents Plead Guilty for Their Roles in $21 Million Sober Homes Fraud Scheme

MIAMI – Three former co-owners and clinical directors of a group of purported substance abuse treatment centers and sober homes pleaded guilty yesterday for their roles in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud that resulted in an actual loss of more than $3.8 million, and through which the conspirators sought to obtain more than $21 million.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

Ali Ahmed, 38, Hector Efrain Alvarez, 49, and Mauren Morel, 45, all of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno of the Southern District of Florida, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 21, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. (Case No. 19cr60200)

As alleged in the indictment, in recent years, South Florida has become the locus for drug and alcohol addicts seeking assistance in an effort to become and remain sober. Substance abuse treatment centers that assist such persons undergoing detoxification from an intoxicating or addictive substance are regulated under state and federal law. These substance abuse treatment centers, or detox centers, offer a continuum of care including, from most intensive to least intensive, as follows: inpatient detox, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP’s), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP’s), and Outpatient Programs (OP’s). Persons undergoing treatment on an out-patient basis, whether in PHP, IOP, or OP, typically elect to live in a “recovery residence,” also known as a “sober home” or “halfway house,” with other persons who are also in treatment and committed to a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/three-south-florida-residents-plead-guilty-their-roles-21-million-sober-homes-fraud

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Three South Florida Residents Plead Guilty for Their Roles in $21 Million Sober Homes Fraud Scheme (Original Post) TexasTowelie Nov 2019 OP
John Oliver did a devastating expose on this last year, unforgivable when so many need help. :( Rhiannon12866 Nov 2019 #1
You beat me, I was just going to post the same. dewsgirl Nov 2019 #2

Rhiannon12866

(203,019 posts)
1. John Oliver did a devastating expose on this last year, unforgivable when so many need help. :(
Fri Nov 15, 2019, 05:02 AM
Nov 2019
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Rehab



The addiction treatment industry is dangerously unregulated. John Oliver explains why many rehab programs should incorporate more evidence-based care and carefully reconsider their doctor-to-horse ratio.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Florida»Three South Florida Resid...