Federal prosecutors say the local cases were part of a nationwide takedown involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims.
MIAMI, FL — Federal prosecutors charged 12 defendants in South Florida in a nationwide health care fraud takedown that officials said targeted alleged schemes involving Medicare, Medicaid, federal employee benefits and private insurers.
The South Florida cases were announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones as part of the Justice Department’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Prosecutors said the local cases involved more than $4 billion in alleged fraudulent claims tied to medical equipment, skin substitutes, wound care products, laboratory testing and mental health services.
The national sweep led to charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, across 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories. Officials said the cases involved more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims and included allegations of patient harm, opioid abuse and large money-laundering networks. “Health care fraud isn’t just fraud, it’s stealing from every American taxpayer,” Reding Quiñones said. He said prosecutors are using data to detect suspicious claims earlier, stop payments when possible, seize proceeds and bring defendants into court.
One of the South Florida cases centers on Casilda Muniz Rodriguez, 57, of Hialeah, who prosecutors said helped set up clinics that billed Medicare more than $117 million for skin substitutes and wound care products that were not provided. Prosecutors said she worked with the clinics’ true owners while listing nominee owners on Medicare enrollment paperwork. Authorities said she set up at least 11 clinics and that Medicare paid more than $55 million based on the claims. Separately, prosecutors said they seized more than $27 million in alleged fraudulent Medicare payments from accounts tied to 12 South Florida clinics. Those clinics were accused of billing for amniotic wound allografts and services that were not provided.
Another case involves Dr. Jason Finkelstein, 53, of Fort Worth, Texas, a board-certified cardiologist who prosecutors said was licensed in 48 states and served as medical director for a cardiovascular testing company. He was charged in an $89 million scheme tied to tests performed on student athletes at school campuses around the country. Prosecutors said he used companies he owned to submit false claims for tests and that about $13.1 million was paid. The indictment says Finkelstein did not personally examine the athletes to decide whether the tests were needed and approved some results within seconds. Prosecutors said one student athlete whose results showed possible abnormalities died of sudden cardiac arrest about 24 days after Finkelstein signed the results as normal.
Prosecutors also charged Eduardo Javier Ibarra Arrowsmith, 61, of Miami, with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents and aggravated identity theft. Authorities said Ibarra, a Cuban national and convicted felon, posed as a licensed doctor and used the credentials of a deceased Miami-Dade neurologist. Prosecutors said he completed and signed at least 34 federal disability-exception forms for naturalization applicants, leading 14 people to obtain U.S. citizenship without completing the English language and civics testing. The allegations are part of the broader takedown, but prosecutors did not say the immigration-related case involved billing health insurers.
The largest South Florida allegation named Ibrahim Hilmi, 58, of Miami, who was charged with health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering. Prosecutors said Hilmi was involved with ABRH Care Inc. and Sunshine Senior Solutions LLC, two durable medical equipment companies accused of submitting $3.76 billion in claims for equipment and wound dressings that were never provided. Authorities said about $5.7 million was deposited into company bank accounts and that Hilmi wired millions of dollars in alleged fraud proceeds to a foreign entity in Hong Kong. Giorgi Kimeridze, 43, a Georgian national, was charged in a separate money-laundering complaint tied to durable medical equipment companies that billed more than $1 billion.
Other South Florida defendants were accused in medical equipment, genetic testing and mental health schemes. Laura Seiler-Anstett, 55, of Coral Springs, was charged in a $58.3 million durable medical equipment case involving orthotic braces. Rajiv Shah, 65, of Palm Beach Gardens, was charged in an alleged scheme to submit more than $64 million in Medicare claims for medically unnecessary equipment. Anthony Tursi, 39, of Boynton Beach, was charged in a $62 million genetic testing case. Yilian Cruz, 36, and Inti Cruz, 55, both of Miami Lakes, and Adaimis Perez Arencibia, 39, of Miami, were charged in a Medicaid case involving more than $1 million in psychosocial rehabilitation reimbursements. Rene Yartu Couceiro, 57, of Miami, was charged in a separate mental health clinic case.
Officials said the national operation also included actions outside the criminal courts. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspended 1,079 providers and revoked billing privileges for 1,403 providers. Federal officials also announced more than 1,400 provider exclusions, civil settlements and administrative actions by the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking to revoke authority to handle or prescribe controlled substances. Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami said health care fraud diverts money from patient care and medical services. HHS officials said the cases show both the size of alleged financial losses and the risk to patients when billing schemes replace medical judgment.
The South Florida cases will move through federal court, where indictments, informations and complaints remain allegations. Prosecutors said each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Justice Department said the broader takedown is being handled by strike force teams, U.S. attorneys’ offices, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units and several federal agencies.
Author note: Last updated June 27, 2026.