A rheumatologist in Texas is going to jail because he lied about people having chronic illnesses and did unnecessary procedures, like chemotherapy, on healthy patients in order to get Medicare and Medicaid money.
His only reason for doing it was to live a fancy life with fancy cars, a jet, and dozens of expensive homes.
The Department of Justice said in a press statement that Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, was given a 10-year federal prison sentence 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. After a 25-day hearing in 2020, Zamora-Quezada was found guilty by a jury.
It is estimated that Zamora-Quezada lied to Medicare and Medicaid to get about $118 million. He also got more than $28 million from insurance companies for tests and treatments that his patients did not need. He was told to pay back the $28 million he stole from the insurance companies.
After giving his patients the wrong diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, he gave them dangerous drugs that had terrible effects on their lives, the government said. These side effects included strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage, and pain so bad that it was hard to do basic things like bathing, cooking, and driving.
Someone who was being treated said, “I didn’t feel like my life had any meaning because I was stuck in bed all the time and couldn’t get up on my own.”
A mom thought her kid was a “lab rat.” Patients who were young said they were “living a life in the body of an old person.”
Other doctors who testified against him said it was “obvious” that the patients did not have any long-term illnesses.
The DOJ said Zamora-Quezada had to be brought to justice.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said, “Dr. Zamora-Quezada lived a lavish life for twenty years by torturing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurance companies, and stealing public money.” “His evil behavior is a huge breach of trust toward weak patients who depend on their doctors to care for them and be honest with them.” The term I gave you today is not only a punishment, it’s also a warning. People who work in medicine and hurt Americans for personal gain will be actively pursued and held responsible to protect our citizens and the public.
A courtroom report from MySanAntonio.com says that almost 20 victims gave statements. Miranda Hinojosa was one of them and was taken to the hospital by paramedics. She told the court that she can’t get out of bed because Zamora-Quezada gave her needless chemotherapy when she was 11 years old.
Someone else said, “I hope you rot in hell!”
