Former NFL Player Sentenced to 16 Years for $200 Million Medicare Fraud

Why this matters: This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly patients and veterans to healthcare fraud and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit these programs. It also demonstrates the DOJ's commitment to prosecuting such crimes and protecting taxpayer-funded resources.

The investigation revealed that French worked with overseas telemarketing call centers that pressured elderly patients into providing their personal and health insurance information. These call centers often altered call recordings to make it appear as though patients had agreed to receive orthotic braces that they did not need or want. French also paid sham telemedicine companies kickbacks to obtain signed doctors' orders from doctors and nurse practitioners who never examined or spoke to the patients. These orders were then sold to marketers and medical supply companies, which submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and CHAMPVA.

French concealed his involvement by using straw owners and false documents to hide his connection to the DME supply companies. This allowed him to bill the programs for orthotic braces through these companies, further perpetuating the fraud.

Joel Rufus French is a former NFL player who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a $200 million Medicare fraud scheme.

French was convicted of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to offer, pay, solicit, and receive kickbacks.

French worked with overseas telemarketers to pressure elderly patients into accepting unnecessary orthotic braces and then billed Medicare and CHAMPVA for them, using sham telemedicine companies and shell companies to conceal his involvement.

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