Three individuals have been indicted in Florida for their involvement in a $36 million fraud scheme related to COVID-19 testing. Venezuelans Enrique Pérez-Paris, Diego Sánchez, and citizen Gregory Caskey are facing charges for their roles as owners of the laboratory, Innovative Genomics.
According to court documents, between 2019 and 2023, the individuals conspired to present unnecessary claims and bribed those who channeled the evidence. They allegedly improperly billed the federal HRSA program for screenings of Medicare beneficiaries and billed for tests not approved by the FDA.
Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and health fraud, as well as money laundering. If found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy and 10 years for fraud.
The prosecution announced the case alongside the FBI and the Health OIG, who are investigating the alleged fraudulent system through which the individuals profited from the pandemic.