A Coral Springs man was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for his role in a $35 million Medicare fraud scheme that targeted elderly Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through deceptive telemarketing and medically unnecessary medical equipment.
Sandro Herek, 56, of Coral Springs, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and three counts of receiving health care kickbacks.
Federal prosecutors said Herek oversaw overseas call centers, including operations in Egypt and other countries, that aggressively cold-called Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and pressured them into accepting back, knee, shoulder and ankle braces they often did not need or want.
According to evidence presented at trial, call center representatives repeatedly contacted elderly beneficiaries, sometimes after they had already declined, and used high-pressure sales tactics to secure their agreement. Physicians frequently approved braces through standardized authorizations based solely on call recordings and, in many cases, never spoke directly with the beneficiaries, prosecutors said.
The scheme was orchestrated with co-defendant Michael Kochen, 42, of Aventura, who owned dozens of durable medical equipment companies. Prosecutors said Kochen paid illegal kickbacks to Herek and others to recruit Medicare beneficiaries, then obtained prescription orders through telemedicine companies and billed Medicare Advantage plans for medically unnecessary braces.
Authorities said the scheme generated approximately $35 million in fraudulent claims, resulting in more than $19 million in payments from Medicare Advantage plans.
Kochen was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison after being convicted on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, health care fraud and paying health care kickbacks.
Send Your News to Coral Springs’s #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t Miss Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.
Author Profile
Related
Crime & SafetyJuly 30, 2026Coral Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in $35 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Crime & SafetyJuly 30, 2026Coral Springs Crime Blotter: Driver Arrested in Coral Springs DUI Manslaughter Case
EatJuly 30, 2026Basser’s Food and Wine Festival Returns With 175 Wines, Local Restaurants, and Live Music
EventsJuly 30, 2026Coral Springs Coconut Creek Chamber hosts August Luncheon
