Orlando, FL — A federal jury in Florida has convicted Joel Rufus French, a former NFL player and marketing company owner, for orchestrating a years-long healthcare fraud scheme that siphoned nearly $197 million from Medicare and CHAMPVA, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
According to trial evidence, French worked with overseas call centers that aggressively targeted elderly Americans — including seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia — pressuring them into accepting medically unnecessary orthotic braces. In some cases, call recordings were altered to falsely indicate patient consent. Prosecutors also revealed that Medicare was billed for braces for deceased patients and amputees for limbs they did not have.
French then paid sham telemedicine companies to generate doctors’ orders from physicians and nurse practitioners who never examined or even spoke with patients. Those fraudulent orders were sold to medical supply companies, which submitted claims to federal healthcare programs. Authorities said French concealed his ownership of eight durable medical equipment companies using falsified records, allowing fraudulent billing to continue undetected.
The scheme also involved cash payoffs to co-conspirators. Evidence showed French withdrew roughly $225,000 in cash from a Mississippi bank, including more than $10,000 transported in a bag to Orlando to pay individuals supplying stolen patient information.
French was convicted on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and illegal kickbacks. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the most serious charge. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, HHS Office of Inspector General, and VA Office of Inspector General. Federal prosecutors said the case underscores an aggressive push to dismantle large-scale healthcare fraud operations that exploit vulnerable Americans and drain taxpayer-funded programs.
- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com