Florida Ex-Executive Convicted in COVID-19 Test Fraud

A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida has convicted Joseph Rodriguez, a former Vice President of a testing laboratory and owner of a marketing company, for his role in a fraudulent scheme that exploited patients seeking COVID-19 tests during the pandemic. The scheme resulted in Medicare being billed for over $15 million for unnecessary blood tests.

Rodriguez, 58, of Coral Springs, orchestrated the scheme through his marketing company, Phoenix Health. He targeted elderly patients at residence country clubs in the West Palm Beach area, who were desperate for COVID-19 nasal swab and blood antibody tests. At drive-through testing events organized by Rodriguez, patients received the COVID-19 tests they requested, but were also subjected to numerous unnecessary blood tests that were neither wanted nor ordered by a doctor.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, these additional tests included hormone tests and heavy metal tests for arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. Rodriguez fraudulently listed a doctor's name on the claims submitted to Medicare, making it appear as though the tests were medically necessary and ordered by a physician.

The fraudulent activities took place over approximately four months at nine different clubs, involving almost two thousand patients. Medicare was billed more than $15 million and paid over $500,000 as a result of these claims. Patient complaints, as well as inquiries from doctors and club managers, highlighted the unnecessary nature of the blood tests.

Rodriguez was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six substantive counts of health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2027, where a federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.

S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).

Assistant Deputy Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Claire Horrell of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, "The defendant took advantage of patients desperate for COVID-19 tests at the height of the pandemic to bill Medicare for unnecessary blood tests." Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L.

Bennett of HHS-OIG highlighted the violation of trust and threat to the integrity of the healthcare system posed by Rodriguez's actions. FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles noted the strength of the evidence and the commitment to holding those accountable who defraud federal health care programs.