Ten south Texas residents have learned that lesson well after being sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud the American Family Life Assurance Company (Aflac).
In June 2011, a total of 36 persons were charged in a number of indicments for defrauding Aflac of millions of dollars by filing false injury claims under Aflac's Accident-Only Insurance Plan.
On Oct. 28 , U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced 10 of these defendants to terms of imprisonment without parole to be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release and ordered that they make full restitution to Aflac.
The sentences imposed:
- Rachel Betancourt, 42, of Edinburg, Texas – 27 months in prison and $96,955 in restitution
- Dalia Cerda-Delgado, of Palmview, Texas – 24 months in prison and $38,925 in restitution
- Lilly Perez, 32, of La Villa, Texas – 24 months in prison and $139,120 in restitution
- Patricia Cerda-Flores, 44, of Palmview, Texas – 18 months in prison and $86,395 in restitution
- Desiree Rodriguez, 34, of Edinburg, Texas – 17 months in prison and $109,450 in restitution
- Maria C. Alaniz, 39, of Elsa, Texas – 15 months in prison and $88,340 in restitution
- Jose Rodriguez, 34, of Edinburg, Texas – 15 months in prison and $102,335 in restitution
- Ninfa Reyes, 38, of Edcouch, Texas – 12 months and one day in prison and $38,925 in restitution
- Noemi Villareal, 60, of Edcouch, Texas – 12 months and one day in prison and $63,450 in restitution
- Rebecca Castillo, 41, of Edinburg, Texas – eight months in prison and $17,510 in restitution
The 10 defendants pleaded guilty in August 2011, to one count of wire fraud. From 2005 through 2010, the defendants routinely delivered lists of fake accidents and injuries to two physicians in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
In exchange for a cash kickback of about $15 per report, the physicians prepared an “accident report” for each fake injury. The physicians falsely claimed that they provided treatment and prescribed medicine to the defendants. Over time, the defendants above faxed about 6,944 false injury claims and accident reports to Aflac in Columbus, Ga. The 10 defendants received various amounts of money from Aflac totaling $778,470.
Earlier in October, six of the defendants charged in the case were sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane for periods ranging from six months to 12 months and one day. They include Idaleen Sanchez, 34, Valerio Ramos, 55, Rigoberto Ramirez, 30, Eddie Guerra, 35, Jose Guerra, 47, and Norma Sanchez, 40.
An additional 11 defendants-Lucila Alcala, 40, Leonor Salinas, 46, Norma Flores, 54, Nora L. Palacios, 53, Georgina Flores, 43, Jessica Herrera, 30, Nancy Rodriguez, 32, Maria Cantu, 56, Denise Rendon, 38, Beatriz Carreon, 44, and Minerva Murgia, 43-have pleaded guilty to wire fraud and are awaiting sentencing. Seven other defendants are awaiting trial.
All defendants were allowed to continue on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.
Source: www.justice.gov
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