Latest news with #MaseratiGranTurismo
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
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Depraved' Texas doctor convicted of $325M healthcare fraud bought jet, luxury properties
A Texas doctor was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for his nearly 20-year involvement in healthcare fraud. Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, is a rheumatologist who was licensed to practice medicine in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts prior to having those licenses revoked in each state. He accumulated over $118 million in false claims and over $28 million in payments by insurers by "falsely diagnosing patients with chronic illnesses to bill for tests and treatments that the patients did not need," according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs. The office also says Zamora-Quezada of Mission attempted to cover up the fraud and "falsified patient records to support the false diagnoses after receiving a federal grand jury subpoena." The scheme stretched on for over 18 years and involved a total of $325 million, according to a DOJ press release on the 2020 guilty verdict. At the conclusion of a 25-day trial, Zamora-Quezada was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, seven counts of healthcare fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Along with the 10-year prison term, the DOJ ordered the doctor to pay $28,245,454 in damages, which include 13 real estate properties throughout the U.S. and Mexico, a jet, and a Maserati GranTurismo. Evidence presented at trial suggests Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Blue Cross Blue Shield by subjecting the patients to unnecessary treatments. "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," a DOJ press release states. A DOJ official, whose identity is unknown, told Fox News about these severe effects that patients endured as a result of unnecessary treatment. "There was testimony about truly debilitating side effects from the medications, things like strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, really the jawbone melting away, hair loss, liver damage," the official said. The DOJ's trial summary suggests Zamora-Quezada implicated his employees. "Testimony at trial established that Zamora-Quezada told employees to 'aparecer' the missing records — 'to make them appear,'" the press release states. "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." During the trial, prosecutors revealed startling data: Out of the nearly 100,000 Medicare patients Zamora-Quezada saw, he diagnosed 72.9% with rheumatoid arthritis. Meanwhile, seven other Texas rheumatologists collectively diagnosed 13% of patients with RA. Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, expressed hope that the case would serve as an example for corrupt healthcare professionals. "Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money," Galeotti said. "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 fisc." Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) said the doctor's actions "abused both patient trust and public resources." "It is imperative to investigate and address this form of fraud — not only to protect vulnerable individuals from harm but to uphold the integrity of the federal health care system and safeguard the use of public funds," Meadows added. Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office emphasized the consequences that patients and their loved ones had to face as a result of Zamora-Quezada's fraud. "This case was not only a concern to us because of the financial loss — the physical and emotional harm suffered by the patients and their families was alarming and profound," Tapp said. "We hope this significant sentence will help bring closure to the many victims in this case." Several state and federal agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG, Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. — Fox News contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas doctor convicted of massive fraud for false diagnoses, treatment
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
7 Sports Cars To Avoid Buying
If you're all about handling, speed, acceleration, cylinder engines and turning heads wherever you go, then nothing but a sports car will do. Whether you're in the market for a new 2025 model or a beloved classic from years past, there's no shortage of automakers hoping to trade horsepower, cornering, maneuverability and style for a big chunk of your savings account. Consider This: Find Out: However, before you drop serious money on a sports car, make sure you know which models to avoid. You don't want to drive home with a high-priced, high-powered bundle of buyer's remorse. GOBankingRates spoke with auto industry insiders who cautioned against buying the following sports cars because they cost too much, are unreliable, lack features or have comparable rivals that offer more for less. MSRP: $159,995 to $191,995 Nearly every automotive expert GOBankingRates consulted put the same $174,000 (depending on the model year) vehicle at the top of the list of sports cars you shouldn't buy. Among them was Erin Kemp, a consumer advocate with Bumper. 'The Maserati GranTurismo is a car that consumers should think twice about before purchasing,' she said. 'The GranTurismo catches the eye of many drivers for being stylish and having a compelling performance profile, but owners often have trouble with its reliability. 'Many have reported problems related to its engine and electrical system. When things do go wrong, the repairs are very costly, too. Cars like this aren't meant to have a bunch of miles on them, so you can run into expensive problems if you use them for everyday driving.' MSRP: $99,150 No one is saying that the Lotus Evora — produced for a little more than a decade ending in 2021 — isn't an extraordinary machine. In fact, in a bon voyage tribute during its final production year, The Drive called it 'the perfectly imperfect sports car.' It's just that with a nearly $100,000 starting price, a little less imperfection would be nice. 'The Evora boasts a raw driving experience, but it's been criticized for reliability issues over the years,' said Joe Giranda, director of sales and marketing for CFR Classic, which specializes in international car shipping and relocation. 'Plus, its interior lacks the polish and comfort features found in other sports cars at its price point.' Be Aware: MSRP: $79,175 to $114,275 Jaguar has long been synonymous with power, performance and style, but the British luxury brand also has developed a reputation for frequent breakdowns. Earned or not, that reputation has followed its lineage to the F-Type. 'The Jaguar F-Type is a beautiful car with a potent engine lineup, but it has been criticized for its reliability,' said 30-year auto industry veteran Frank De Mulder, founder of Classic Car Maintenance. 'Some owners have reported electronic and powertrain issues, which can be costly to repair out of warranty.' With a starting price of just over $79,000, the last thing drivers need are frequent trips to the shop — plus, several rivals make a more compelling case. 'A Porsche 911 or Chevrolet Corvette might offer similar performance with a better reliability track record,' said De Mulder. MSRP: $68,745 to $139,920 Alfa Romeo discontinued the 4C in 2020; and, while it's still a popular sports car with plenty of loyalists, De Mulder thinks they could do better. 'The Alfa Romeo 4C is a pure driver's car but comes with significant sacrifices in terms of comfort and convenience,' he said. 'It lacks power steering, and its cabin is quite sparse. While it's a blast on the track, those looking for a sports car to enjoy on all occasions might prefer the Porsche Cayman, which offers thrilling performance without compromising on comfort.' MSRP: $148,495 to $164,295 Like the Alfa Romeo 4C, 2020 was the final production year for the BMW i8, and similarly, De Mulder thinks some of its competitors make a more convincing case for your dollars. 'The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid that offers a glimpse into the future with its futuristic design,' De Mulder said. 'However, its performance doesn't quite live up to its supercar looks, and for the price, there are several other options that offer better performance and a more engaging driving experience, such as the Acura NSX.' MSRP: $122,985 to $222,985 With 565 horsepower, the Nissan GT-R has the power to match its $122,000 estimated starting MSRP. However, at least one industry veteran thinks the lineup has gotten stale. 'The Nissan GT-R, which was once a significant challenge to modern supercars, now feels like one of the most clichéd sports cars on the road,' said Steve May, an automotive expert who founded NumberPlates4You after 25 years in the automotive industry. 'I believe that since Nissan stopped updating the R35 GT-R, the aftermarket scene took over its evolution.' Car and Driver backs that up with this summation, 'R35 generation dates to 2009, interior lacks refinement, seems crude and rude by today's standards.' 'If I were looking for more bang for my buck,' May said, 'I might consider some Porsche models or even yield to a whim and go for a Corvette.' MSRP: $448,400 Like nearly all auto enthusiasts, May appreciates the power, beauty and performance of the Porsche Carrera GT, but he thinks its safety features are insufficient enough to disqualify it from your shortlist. 'In my years in the auto industry, the Porsche Carrera GT stands out as one of the riskiest cars from the brand,' he said. 'While its 5.7-liter engine is incredibly powerful, I feel like driving this car feels raw, especially with its mighty V10. 'The Carrera GT might not be the best choice for beginners since it misses out on essential safety features like traction control and ABS. I believe that with such a tight margin for error, even skilled drivers would find this car challenging.' Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates10 Most Expensive Meals in the World10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle This article originally appeared on 7 Sports Cars To Avoid Buying
