Three Florida men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a scheme that defrauded Medicare of more than $2.2 million and laundered the illicit proceeds. Marco Scamarone, 34, Jose Mendez, 34, and Renee Vazquez, 33, received sentences ranging from 60 to 78 months for their roles in the extensive health care fraud.
The defendants owned and operated two fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) companies, Braces and Orthotics LLC and Stone Oak Durable Medical Equipment LLC. Between January 2022 and February 2023, these companies submitted approximately $6.9 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary. The scheme involved illegal kickbacks and bribes paid to an offshore marketing company for beneficiary referrals and fraudulent doctors’ orders. The men then conspired to launder over $2.2 million through a series of shell companies.
In December 2025, Scamarone, Mendez, and Vazquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Scamarone and Mendez were each ordered to pay over $2.2 million in forfeiture and more than $3 million in restitution. Vazquez was ordered to pay over $1.7 million in forfeiture and more than $2.2 million in restitution. Scamarone received 70 months, Mendez 78 months, and Vazquez 60 months in prison.
The sentences underscore the Justice Department’s commitment to combating fraud, highlighted by the recent creation of its National Fraud Enforcement Division. This effort supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a government-wide initiative aimed at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.