Santa Paula doctor sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for role in hospice fraud that bilked Medicare out of $3.2 million

Santa Paula doctor sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for role in hospice fraud that bilked Medicare out of $3.2 million 
United States Attorney's Office - Central District of California; Press Release, Los Angeles, CA; 12/16/24 
A Ventura County physician who worked for two Pasadena hospices was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare out of more than $3 million through claims for medically unnecessary hospice services. Dr. Victor Contreras, 69, of Santa Paula, was sentenced today by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered him to pay $3,289,889 in restitution. Contreras pleaded guilty on July 24 to one count of health care fraud. From July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and co-defendant Juanita Antenor, 62, formerly of Pasadena, schemed to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice services submitted by two hospice companies: Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. Antenor controlled both companies. 
Editor's note: This press release follows-up on the post we recently posted: Glendale woman and Lakewood man found guilty of $3.2 million hospice fraud scheme involving kickbacks for patient referrals.