fraudulently overbilled Medicare for equipment receiving nearly $1 million in Medicare funds.

Medical equipment supplier indicted for Medicare fraud


10/18/2007 1:48 PM
U.S. Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a medical equipment supplier with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment was returned Oct. 17.

Florence Ubak-Offiong, 38, of Sugar Land, was indicted on five counts of health care fraud and two counts of violating the anti-kickback statute.

If convicted, she could receive a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for each of the health care fraud charges and up to five years for each of the anti-kickback charges.

The indictment alleges that Ubak-Offiong owned and operated a medical supply company in Sugar Land with customers throughout the state, including the Eastern District of Texas. It is alleged that Ubak-Offiong fraudulently overbilled Medicare for equipment receiving nearly $1 million in Medicare funds.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Attorney General's Office, Medicare Fraud Control Unit; HHSC-OIG and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.

It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.