Texas — A Texas rheumatologist faces prison for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by performing unnecessary procedures, including chemotherapy on healthy patients, and falsely diagnosing others with chronic illnesses.
And he did it solely to live a luxurious lifestyle complete with expensive cars, a jet, and dozens of high-end real estate properties.
Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on Wednesday for one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to a Department of Justice press release. Zamora-Quezada was convicted by a jury following a 25-day trial in 2020.
Zamora-Quezada submitted $118 million in false Medicare and Medicaid claims and received more than $28 million from insurance companies for tests and treatments his patients did not require. He was ordered to pay back the insurance companies the $28 million he stole.
After incorrectly diagnosing his patients with rheumatoid arthritis, he prescribed them toxic medications that severely impacted their lives, “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 stated.
“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,” a patient said during testimony.
A mother felt like her child was a “lab rat.” The young patients claimed they were “living a life in the body of an elderly person.”
Other doctors who testified in his trial said it was “obvious” that the patients had no chronic diseases.
The DOJ stated that Zamora-Quezada must face justice.
“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money,” stated Matthew R. Galeotti, Chief of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His depraved behavior is a profound betrayal of trust in vulnerable patients who rely on their doctors’ care and integrity. Today’s sentence is more than just a punishment; it’s a warning. Medical professionals who cause harm to Americans for personal gain will be aggressively pursued and held accountable to protect our citizens and the public.”
According to a courtroom report from MySanAntonio.com, nearly 20 victims gave statements, including Miranda Hinojosa, who was taken by ambulance. She told the court that she is now bedridden as a result of the unnecessary chemotherapy administered by Zamora-Quezada beginning when she was 11 years old.
Another victim exclaimed: “I hope you rot in hell!”
