Thursday, May 26, 2011

Three people from Wichita are charged with defrauding Medicare through the illegal sale of motorized wheelchairs.

A federal grand jury indicted 59-year-old Steven J. Palacioz, the owner of Advanced Medical Concepts. The others indicted are 38-year-old Veneda Brown and 51-year-old Bonita Regina Carter.

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that Palacioz paid Brown more than $48,000 and Carter more than $46,000 to refer Medicare recipients to his business.

Officials said Palacioz sought Medicare reimbursement even though
he knew the recipients didn't qualify to receive the wheelchairs.

Prosecutors say Medicare paid Palacioz more than $2.4 million between 2002 and 2006.