March 9 (UPI) — A Texas man who schemed his way into nearly $60 million in fraudulent medical claims for unnecessary medical equipment was order to pay millions in restitution, forfeit cars and properties, and spend 90 months in jail.
Patrick Cassells, 65, of Fulshear, Texas pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
On Friday, he was sentenced to jail, in addition to paying $25.4 million in restitution and giving up four vehicles and three properties in Houston, the Department of Justice announced.
Cassells owned and operated three companies that supply patients with durable medical equipment such as knee, back, shoulder and wrist braces.
On paperwork to enroll in Medicare, Cassells lied about who owned and operated one of the companies while working with other people who sent him fake medical paperwork for orthotic braces and other devices, DOJ said.
Overall, Cassells was linked to $59.9 million in fake claims and was paid more than $27 million as a result. Part of his plans, in addition to his activity in Houston, was to buy personal vehicles and other vehicles he “intended to export to Nigeria,” the department said.
The case is not the first in Houston to include various frauds that included buying cars to ship overseas, including to Nigeria, Hoodline reported.