Pinoy pleads not guilty to $20-M Medicare fraud in Illinois

A Filipino immigrant who is accused of swindling $20 million in Medicare claims pleaded not guilty before an Illinois court, according to a report. The Philippine Today US reported that Northern District of Illinois Judge Charles Norgle Sr. heard earlier this month Jacinto “John" Gabriel Jr.’s not guilty plea. The report said investigators of the Federal Bureau of Investigation found Gabriel and his co-schemers allegedly using the proceeds for various purposes. According to the report, the purposes included:

• using more than $5.5 million in cash to maintain lavish lifestyles, including gambling at casinos in Chicago and Las Vegas;
• buying automobiles, jewelry, and real estate in the United States and in the Philippines; and
• bribing physicians and paying kickbacks to others in exchange for patient referrals.

Gabriel, 43, a native of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, is due back in court for status hearing on Aug. 16. — OFW Journalism Consortium