Coral Springs man among 3 off to prison in $7 million Medicare fraud case, feds say
A Coral Springs man and two Tamarac men have been sentenced in a nearly $7 million Medicare fraud case, federal prosecutors said.
Jose Mendez, 34, of Coral Springs was arrested along with co-conspirators Marco Scamarone, 34, and Renee Vazquez, 33, in June 2025 on charges of money laundering and defrauding the United States government for personal gain, according to a May 21 Department of Justice news release.
Mendez, Scamarone and Vazquez owned fraudulent companies in Virginia (Braces and Orthotics LLC) and South Florida (Stone Oak Durable Medical Equipment LLC) that submitted $6.9 million in fraudulent claims to the federal health care system, feds say.
“The conspiracy involved illegal kickbacks and bribes paid to an offshore marketing company exchange for the referral of beneficiaries and fraudulent doctors’ orders,” the news release said.
“The three men conspired to launder the proceeds of their fraud through a series of shell companies under their control or the control of their associates — ultimately laundering more than $2.2 million in illicit funds for their own benefit and the benefit of their co-conspirators.”
The offshore co-conspirators were not named in court documents. One was referred to as a “call center based in the Philippines.” Marketing companies Mr. JJ Management Services, Southflo Services, House of Bundles and Victory Precision Marketing were also mentioned as involved parties.
Only Victory Precision Marketing was listed as receiving an illegal kickback from the scheme, officials said.
Mendez and Scamarone were ordered to pay $2.3 million in forfeiture and $3 million in restitution each, prosecutors say. Vazquez was ordered to pay slightly less.
Mendez was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, while Scaramore got five years and 10 months, and Vazquez got five years.
The conviction also makes them ineligible to be providers covered by federal health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, officials said.
