A South Florida eye doctor is at the heart of a scandal that includes prostitution, political corruption and possible Medicare fraud. The doctor is facing numerous allegations and was the subject of a raid by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was already involved in an investigation regarding his dealings with New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez. The doctor is already the subject of an Internal Revenue Service lien of $11.1 million based on back taxes owed. Despite the two-day raid, some are still convinced that the controversy is politically based.
Among the allegations facing the doctor are that he provided the Senator with underage prostitutes from the Dominican Republic. He is accused of providing free trips for the Senator and others aboard the doctor’s private plane to his mansion in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, where the doctor is from. The allegations preceded a highly contested election and the issue seemed to die down after the election. The recent FBI raid clearly shows that the matter is still being investigated.
The presence of the Department of Health and Human Services inspector shows that the doctor is being investigated for possible Medicare fraud. The raid recovered financial documents and patient records for use in the possible Medicare fraud prosecution. The FBI and the HHS Office of Inspector General often work together when Medicare fraud is alleged.
Source: Miami Herald, “FBI wraps up raid at West Palm Beach offices of doctor tied to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez,” by Carli Teproff, Marc Caputo and Jay Weaver, 30 January 2013
