Latest news with #JorgeZamora-Quezada
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
US Doctor Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients For 2 Decades, Gets 10 Years Jail
For almost two decades, a US doctor falsely diagnosed patients with chronic illnesses they didn't have, gave them unnecessary, costly treatments and made money by filing false insurance claims. He minted over $28 million through this scheme to lead a luxurious life until it all came apart one day. From 2000 to 2018, Dr Jorge Zamora-Quezada lied to patients, falsely diagnosing them with rheumatoid arthritis, giving them toxic medications and urging them to go for unnecessary tests like X-rays and MRIs to trick insurance companies such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Blue Cross Blue Shield, the US Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs said. The 68-year-old lied about his patients' conditions to the insurers, made fake medical records and filed over $118 million in fraudulent insurance claims, it said. 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." Dr Zamora-Quezada's false diagnosis and toxic medications have caused severe harm to his patients, including strokes, hair loss, liver damage, necrosis of the jawbone, and severe pain while performing simple tasks like cooking, driving and bathing. One of his patients explained his situation, saying he was constantly in bed, unable to get up from bed alone, and was pumped with medication. "I didn't feel like my life had any meaning," the Justice Department quoted the patient as saying. Some felt they were being used as lab rats, others claimed they were living the life of an elderly person. Dr Zamora-Quezada, a licensed rheumatologist practitioner in Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts, has now been arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. After a 25-day trial in January 2020, he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conduct healthcare fraud, seven counts of healthcare fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Since then, all of his medical licenses have been revoked. During the trial, other doctors from Texas's Rio Grande Valley stated that they treated hundreds of patients he falsely told had rheumatoid arthritis. He was also charged with creating a toxic work environment for his clinic's staff, many of whom were in the country on work visas. He allegedly threatened to fire them and try to cancel their visas if they spoke out against him, reported PEOPLE. He has been asked to forfeit over $28 million worth of property, including 13 houses, a private jet, and a luxury Maserati car.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctor, Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients in $118M Fraud Scheme to Fund His 'Luxurious Lifestyle,' Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
A Texas doctor, who was found guilty of orchestrating a $118 million medical fraud scheme for his own financial gain, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on May 21 Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and billed their insurance companies for procedures and tests they did not need He is also being forced to forfeit about $28 million, including 13 real estate properties, a jet and a Maserati sports carA Texas doctor, who was found guilty of fraud for falsely diagnosing patients with diseases they did not have, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs, Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada was sentenced on May 21 to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a health care fraud scheme that involved more than $118 million in false claims and the payment of more than $28 million by insurers. During Zamora-Quezada's Texas trial, prosecutors said he falsely diagnosed his patients with illnesses and billed their insurance companies for procedures and tests they did not need for his own financial gain. Following his sentencing, Zamora-Quezada, 68, is also being forced to forfeit about $28 million, including 13 real estate properties, a jet and a Maserati GranTurismo sports car. "Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with rheumatoid arthritis and administered toxic medications in order to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Blue Cross Blue Shield," the press release stated. "The fraudulent diagnoses made the defendant's patients believe that they had a lifelong, incurable condition that required regular treatment at his offices." "After falsely diagnosing his patients, Zamora-Quezada administered unnecessary treatments and ordered unnecessary testing on them, including a variety of injections, infusions, X-rays, MRIs and other procedures — all with potentially harmful and even deadly side effects," the press release continued. "To receive payment for these expensive services, Zamora-Quezada fabricated medical records and lied about the patients' condition to insurers." According to the DOJ, Zamora-Quezada was a rheumatologist who was licensed to practice medicine in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts. All of his medical licenses have since been revoked. Prosecutors also argued that Zamora-Quezada attempted to cover up the fraud and "falsified patient records to support the false diagnoses after receiving a federal grand jury subpoena." His scheme lasted nearly 20 years and involved about $325 million, the DOJ previously said. Zamora-Quezada was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice in 2020. Local outlet KRGV reported that his sentencing was delayed several times because prosecutors and Zamora-Quezada's defense attorneys could not agree on a number of victims in the scheme or agree on the amount of money that was stolen. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Zamora-Quezada was also accused of creating a toxic environment for his clinic's employees — many of whom were on work visas to live in the U.S. — by getting angry if they did not meet a quota for procedures or saying that he would fire them and try to revoke their visa if they spoke out against him. "Testimony at trial established that Zamora-Quezada told employees to 'aparecer' the missing records — 'to make them appear,' " the DOJ said. "Former employees also recounted being sent to a dilapidated barn to attempt to retrieve records. There, files were saturated with feces and urine, rodents and termites that infested not only the records but also the structure." According to the DOJ, other rheumatologists in Texas' Rio Grande Valley region testified during Zamora-Quezada's 2020 trial that they saw hundreds of patients whom he had falsely diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. One doctor even testified that it would be "obvious" to "most" doctors that these patients did not have the autoimmune condition. Prosecutors also argued that the false diagnoses and medications that Zamora-Quezada prescribed to patients caused "debilitating" side effects, including strokes, necrosis (or cell and tissue death) of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage and severe pain. "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," one patient testified during the trial, per the DOJ. Another patient's mother testified that she felt like her child served as a "lab rat," and other patients testified that they were "living a life in the body of an elderly person." "Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers and stealing taxpayer money,' Matthew R. Galeotti, the head of the DOJ's criminal division, said in the press release. "His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctor," Galeotti added. Read the original article on People
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Texas doctor who falsely diagnosed healthy patients to fund lavish lifestyle in $118M scheme is sentenced to 10 years in prison
A Texas doctor who falsely diagnosed his healthy patients to fund his lavish lifestyle with private jets and luxury sports cars as part of a $118 million health care scheme was sentenced to a decade behind bars. Rheumatologist Jorge Zamora-Quezada defrauded patients and insurance companies by purposefully diagnosing people with rheumatoid arthritis despite them not having the life-long and incurable condition. Zamora-Quezada, 68, masterminded the scheme out of his Mission, Texas office with the help of staffers who were abused and threatened by his status, the Department of Justice said. Advertisement 4 Jorge Zamora-Quezada was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding patients and insurance firms out of millions of dollars. FBI The disgraced health care provider led patients to believe they were suffering from chronic illnesses and they would pay unnecessary and costly treatments and testing that included a variety of injections, infusions, x-rays, MRIs, and other procedures The regimens included the administration of toxic medications that had potentially harmful and even deadly side effects. Advertisement Zamora-Quezada also falsified medical records of his patients to secure insurance funds from providers by falsifying medical. He defrauded $28 million from Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other doctors in the Rio Grande Valley testified against Zamora-Quezada during the 25-day trial, revealing the surprising findings when they treated hundreds of patients, believing they had RA. 'For most (patients) it was obvious that they did not have rheumatoid arthritis,' one rheumatologist testified. Advertisement 4 The records storage of Zamora-Quezada's office after his arrest. DOJ The dangerous treatments Zamora-Quezada prescribed caused patients to develop debilitating side effects, including strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hair loss and liver damage. Other victims developed pain so severe that they were left unable to perform simple, everyday tasks. '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,' one patient told the court. Advertisement A mother compared her child to a lab rat with the amount of medication Zamora-Quezada prescribed. The corrupt caregiver used his position to hire foreign staffers who needed employment to remain in the country on their J-1 visas and wouldn't question his authority unless they risked being fired and deported. 4 The two-engine, six-passenger jet Zamora-Quezada purchased with the money he got through his scheme. DOJ Calling himself 'eminencia' — or eminence, Zamora-Quezada built a work atmosphere of fear and authority. Zamora-Quezada would use his employees as models for ultrasounds that he would include as part of a fabricated missing patients file if he were audited by an insurer. Thousands of patient files were stored in a separate shed ravaged by rodents and termites — most documents covered in feces and urine. If he was questioned on missing patients' records, the doctor would order his staffers to make files 'appear.' 4 One of Zamora-Quezada's real estate properties that he was ordered to forfeit after his conviction. DOJ Advertisement Zamora-Quezada used the millions in takings to build an expansive real estate portfolio complete with 13 separate properties in the US and Mexico, purchased a two-engine plane and a Maserati GranTurismo. 'Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money,' the DOJ's Criminal Division head Matthew R. Galeotti said. 'His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors.' Zamora-Quezada was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Advertisement He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $28,245,454, his real estate portfolio, jet and Maserati. '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 fisc,' Galeotti said.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
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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Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Doctor lied to patients about them having diseases to make $28M in Texas, feds say
A Texas doctor was sentenced to prison after federal officials said he told his patients they had diseases they didn't have in order to make millions. Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to repay over $28 million, including 13 real estate properties, a jet and a Maserati, according to a May 21 news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. McClatchy News reached out to Zamora-Quezada's attorney for comment May 22 but did not immediately hear back. The Justice Department said Zamora-Quezada lived a luxurious life and lied to patients so he could receive payments from insurance companies. Zamora-Quezada defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Blue Cross Blue Shield by falsely diagnosing his patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the Justice Department said. He then gave the patients 'toxic medications,' according to federal officials. Zamora-Quezada made patients believe they had 'a life-long, incurable condition that required regular treatment at his offices,' the Justice Department said. He would administer 'unnecessary treatments' and order 'unnecessary testing' on the patients, according to the Justice Department. This included different 'injections, infusions, x-rays, MRIs, and other procedures—all with potentially harmful and even deadly side effects,' the agency said. Zamora-Quezada also fabricated medical records and lied to insurers about the patients' conditions, the Justice Department 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,' Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said in the news release. Other rheumatologists testified that hundreds of their patients diagnosed by Zamora-Quezada in fact did not have rheumatoid arthritis, according to federal officials. Some patients suffered from 'debilitating' side effects from the 'powerful' medications they were given, including strokes, hair loss, liver damage, pain and necrosis of the jawbone, the Justice Department said. One patient said in court that they were '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.' 'Testimony also revealed Zamora-Quezada's obstruction of insurer audits by fabricating missing patient files, including by taking ultrasounds of employees and using those images as documentation in the patient records,' federal officials said. The Justice Department said the scheme involved over $118 million in false claims and over $28 million paid out by insurers.
