Second guilty plea in $28M Medicare scam

A second former Southwest Florida resident admitted to his role in a $28.3 million Medicare fraud scheme that involved multiple outpatient rehab facilities in Florida, including one in Venice and one in Fort Myers.

Luis Duluc, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and making a false statement relating to health care matters, according a release from the U.S. Attorney's office. Margarita M. Grishkoff, 59, of Charlotte, N.C., and formerly of Southwest Florida, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the case. The FBI and the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General brought the case against Grishkoff and Duluc through the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. The U.S. Attorney's office for the Middle District of Florida, based in Tampa, oversaw the investigation.

Authorities contend Grishkoff and Duluc used various physical therapy clinics and other business entities throughout Florida and other states to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare from 2005 through 2009. Those claims, according to prosecutors, totaled $28.3 million, and Medicare paid approximately $14.4 million on those requests.