The operators of a durable medical equipment company have been charged with defrauding Medicare. Authorities arrested Maria Luisa Yzaguirre, 43, Harlingen, on August 30. Jeremiah Yzaguirre, 44, also of Harlingen, was arrested Aug. 22. The 16-count indictment charges the operators with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
The charges allege that between 2019 and 2023, the Yzaguires submitted over $14 million in claims to Medicare for power wheelchairs, power scooters, parts, and repairs for 37 individuals. In multiple instances, they allegedly billed Medicare more than $600,000 for parts and repairs for one Medicare beneficiary and falsely claimed to have replaced expensive parts on numerous occasions. According to the indictment, in one instance they billed Medicare approximately $736,072 in parts and repairs for one patient — submitting repair claims 132 times for the expandable controller, 107 times for the motor-gearbox, and 84 times for the battery. The patient was bedbound and did not have access to the power wheelchair when the repairs were allegedly conducted. Additionally, the indictment alleges they used proceeds of the fraud scheme to purchase millions of dollars in real estate, cryptocurrency, stock, a luxury sports car, and expensive movie memorabilia.
