Tamarac, Coral Springs Men Sentenced in $2.2 Million Medicare Fraud Laundering Scheme

by Sharon Aron Baron May 21, 2026

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Three South Florida men were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for their roles in a scheme that defrauded Medicare and laundered more than $2.2 million in illegal health care fraud proceeds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Marco Scamarone, 34, of Tamarac, was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
Jose Mendez, 34, of Coral Springs, was sentenced to 78 months in prison.
Renee Vazquez, 33, of Tamarac, was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the men owned and operated two fraudulent durable medical equipment companies — Braces and Orthotics LLC in Virginia and Stone Oak Durable Medical Equipment LLC in South Florida.

Federal prosecutors said the companies submitted about $6.9 million in fraudulent Medicare claims between January 2022 and February 2023 for medically unnecessary orthotic braces that were ineligible for reimbursement.

Authorities said the conspiracy involved illegal kickbacks and bribes paid to an offshore marketing company in exchange for beneficiary referrals and fraudulent doctors’ orders.

Investigators said the men then laundered the proceeds through shell companies controlled by them and their associates, ultimately laundering more than $2.2 million for themselves and co-conspirators.

All three defendants pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

At sentencing, Scamarone and Mendez were ordered to pay $2,217,840.35 in forfeiture and $3,016,324.20 in restitution. Vazquez was ordered to pay $1,723,773.18 in forfeiture and $2,249,392.09 in restitution.

The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI Miami Field Office and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is the Editor of Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Margate Talk, Coconut Creek Talk Parkland Talk, and Sunrise Talk. Tamarac Talk was created in 2011 to provide News for the residents of Tamarac and is the #1 News Source for Residents.