Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Role in .4 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving COVID-19 Tests

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Role in $14.4 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving COVID-19 Tests

Kevin Karl Wills, Jr., 48, of Ft. Lauderdale, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries for COVID-19 tests and for purchasing and selling Medicare beneficiary identification numbers. Wills faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Wills and a co-conspirator operated a company that facilitated illegal arrangements between marketers and medical service providers. Marketers working with the company illegally obtained Medicare beneficiary information, including identification numbers. Wills’ company then brokered “consulting” agreements between the marketers and medical providers, under which the marketers provided lists of beneficiaries to the providers. The providers used this information to ship COVID-19 tests to the beneficiaries and bill Medicare for reimbursement. Payments to Wills’ company and the marketers were contingent upon successful reimbursement claims, constituting illegal kickbacks under federal law.

The scheme resulted in approximately 152,000 fraudulent claims being submitted to Medicare, generating over $14.4 million in reimbursements. Wills personally received $652,312 in kickbacks, which he has agreed to forfeit to the government.

One medical provider involved in the scheme was SWL Services, based in Jacksonville, Florida. SWL’s owners, Courtney Shauta’ Lewis, 31, and Latania Renee Smith-Washington, 50, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges on March 14, 2024, and are scheduled for sentencing on December 2, 2024. Noel Gary Beres, 64, a marketer introduced to SWL Services by Wills, pleaded guilty on August 27, 2024, and is set to be sentenced on April 22, 2025.

The case was investigated by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier is prosecuting the case, with forfeiture proceedings handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.

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