In El Paso, a local medical equipment supplier has been ordered to serve a five-year sentence after being convicted of running a $1.7 million healthcare fraud scheme. Edelmira Marquez, 59, was the owner of Marquez Medical Supply, which specialized in providing durable medical equipment. According to U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, she admitted to swapping out high-value medical items with less expensive alternatives, subsequently billing Medicaid and Medicare for the more costly equipment.
The scheme primarily involved continence supplies, such as adult diapers, wipes, and bed liners. Marquez made her initial appearance before court on Jan. 19, 2024, after being summoned on Dec. 21 of the previous year and was later released on bond. She pled guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud on March 7. At her sentencing, Marquez was fined $20,000 and ordered to make restitution, amounting to $1,739,608.59, payable to Medicaid.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas announced Marquez's sentencing. Following the hearing, Marquez was taken into federal custody. The investigation that led to Marquez's conviction was a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof spearheading the prosecution.
As Marquez begins her prison term, the repercussions of her actions ripple through a community that depends on the integrity of healthcare providers—a reminder of the importance of vigilance in the fight against fraud in the medical industry.
