Two Florida men have been indicted for their roles in durable medical equipment and compound medication schemes involving kickbacks and fraud. Thomas Farese, 79, of Delray Beach, Florida, and Domenic J. Gatto Jr., 47, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, are charged in an 11-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to transact in criminal proceeds, transacting in criminal proceeds, and conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Farese and Gatto played key roles in a scheme to defraud healthcare benefit programs by offering, paying, soliciting, and receiving kickbacks and bribes in exchange for doctors’ orders for durable medical equipment (DME) without regard to medical necessity, namely orthotic braces. The defendants caused losses to Medicare, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA of approximately $25 million.
