International fugitive arrested in $2.6M fraud

Ubert Guillermo Rodriguez, a Cuban national wanted for a health care fraud scheme since 2013, was arrested in Miami Oct. 9 when he arrived on a flight from Cuba.

Rodriguez, who was the president and owner of Largo-based G.R. Service Equipment & Supplies Inc., was charged by indictment with 14 counts of health care fraud, according to a statement. The indictment alleges he caused G.R. Services to submit nearly $2.6 million in false and fraudulent claims by seeking reimbursement for durable medical equipment that was not prescribed by doctors and not provided to beneficiaries.

Federal law enforcement agents previously seized $243,339 in proceeds from the scheme from the bank account for G.R. Services, according to the statement, from the U.S. Attorney's office.

The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney's Office. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force was created in 2007. It operates in nine cities nationwide and has charged more than 2,300 defendants.