Clinic accused of fraud for fake HIV treatments

Twelve people are accused of racketeering, theft and fraud after a Belle Glade, Fla., clinic allegedly collected more than $5 million from Medicare and Medicaid for fake HIV treatments.

Eleven suspects were arrested Thursday and were in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade County jails. One person was at large, according to prosecutors with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, which led the two-year investigation.

Prosecutors said the Belle Glade Family Health Group, which has since closed, recruited 10 to 13 HIV-positive patients to receive treatments several times a week. Patients were paid $25 per visit and many times were given vitamin shots instead of $4,000-per-session infusion treatments that were billed to Medicare and Medicaid, prosecutors said.

Some of the patients knew they were getting vitamin shots, but some did not, according to prosecutors.

The clinic received more than $5 million and proceeds were allegedly laundered through a check cashing store, a durable medical equipment company and a diagnostic center in Miami-Dade County.

If convicted of racketeering, organized fraud, money laundering and grand theft, the 12 suspects could each be sentenced to 105 years in prison.