Feds release top 10 Medicare fraud fugitives

MIAMI – Three Miami brothers top the list of the nation's most wanted health care fugitives.

It's the first time such a list has been released by Department of Health and Human Services inspector general officials. Officials say the top 10 suspects have cost taxpayers more than $124 million.

Authorities say the Miami brothers, Carlos, Luis, and Jose Benitez, set up bogus clinics and charged Medicare $119 million for costly HIV drugs that patients never received. Authorities say they bought hotels, helicopters and boats before fleeing to Cuba.

Officials hope the list, which includes a website with suspects' photos, will drive callers to the tip hotline. Taxpayers absorb the roughly $60 to $90 billion Medicare fraud costs each year.

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Online: http://oig.hhs.gov/fugitives