Texas man sentenced for nearly $60M Medicare fraud scheme. Patrick Cassells, 65, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud involving false claims for unnecessary medical equipment. He operated three durable medical equipment companies and submitted over $59.9 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, receiving more than $27 million before his arrest. Cassells falsified ownership information and worked with accomplices to submit fake medical paperwork for orthotic braces and devices. The court ordered him to serve 90 months in prison, pay $25.4 million in restitution, and forfeit four vehicles and three Houston properties. Authorities discovered he also purchased personal vehicles intended for export to Nigeria as part of his scheme. This case highlights ongoing healthcare fraud vulnerabilities within Medicare systems and the serious consequences for perpetrators.
