A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida convicted Sophie Dufort, a Gainesville durable medical equipment company owner, in a scheme that led to more than $8.6 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, the Justice Department said on October 27. The claims involved orthotic braces and purported prescriptions that prosecutors said were fake. According to the DOJ, prescriptions were obtained through payments to medical practitioners who had not examined patients, or created using stolen doctors’ credentials. The jury found Dufort guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, two health care fraud counts, conspiracy involving fraud against the United States and illegal kickbacks, and offering and paying illegal kickbacks. The DOJ said a federal judge will determine her sentence after considering applicable guidelines and statutory factors; a sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 2027.

Why it matters

  • The case involved fraudulent claims for braces that beneficiaries did not want or need, according to the DOJ.
  • The conviction included offenses related to health care fraud, wire fraud and illegal kickbacks.