Doctor performed chemotherapy on healthy patients so he could buy private jet
Dr Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, defrauded Medicare and Medicaid to fund his lavish lifestyle by performing unnecessary procedures and falsely diagnosing his patients with chronic illnesses
A doctor has been jailed for performing chemotherapy on healthy patients and giving them strokes so that he could steal millions in insurance payments to buy himself a private jet.
Dr Jorge Zamora-Quezada, a rheumatologist from Texas, defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by performing the unnecessary procedures and falsely diagnosing his patients with chronic illnesses. The 68-year-old made around $118million (£100million) in false claims and pocketed more than $28million (£23million) from health insurance giants for tests and procedures his patients didn't need. Investigators found his motive was to use the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle, complete with luxury cars, a private jet and a portfolio of high-end properties. He was later ordered to repay the $28million he wrongfully obtained from insurance companies.
Zamora-Quezada was caught misdiagnosing his patients with rheumatoid arthritis, then prescribing them toxic medications that left them with a host of severe health issues and symptoms 'including strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage, and pain so severe that basic tasks of everyday life, such as bathing, cooking, and driving, became difficult,' the government said.
One of his patients testified: 'Constantly being in bed and being unable to get up from bed alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn't feel like my life had any meaning.' Another told how she felt her child was being treated as a 'lab rat' under Zamora-Quezada's care, while young patients said they were 'living a life in the body of an elderly person.'
Fellow medics testifying against Zamora-Quezada said it was 'obvious' his patients didn't have chronic diseases. The Department of Justice said it was imperative that the medic faced justice.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said: 'Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money.
'His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors. Today's sentence is not just a punishment - it's a warning. Medical professionals who harm Americans for personal enrichment will be aggressively pursued and held accountable to protect our citizens and the public.'
Almost 20 of Zamora-Quezada's victims appeared in court to give statements. Among them was Miranda Hinojosa, who was taken to the hearing by ambulance, MySanAntonio reports. She told the court how she is now bedridden due to the unnecessary chemotherapy provided to her by Zamora-Quezada, from when she was just 11 years old.
During the hearing, another victim said: 'I hope you rot in hell!'
Zamora-Quezada was sentenced on Wednesday, May 21, to 10 years in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the Department of Justice said.
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