News Summary
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 19 individuals in Florida for healthcare fraud schemes causing over $14.6 billion in intended losses. Among those indicted are medical professionals and individuals implicated in staging accidents for illicit gains. This nationwide crackdown includes 324 defendants and highlights the urgent need for vigilance against healthcare fraud.
Orlando, Florida – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced significant charges against 19 individuals across various counties in Florida, stemming from multi-billion-dollar healthcare fraud schemes that have resulted in widespread illegal activity. This action is part of a larger investigation that has led to the indictment of a staggering 324 defendants nationwide, including 96 medical professionals, such as doctors and nurse practitioners.
The healthcare fraud schemes are estimated to have caused over $14.6 billion in intended losses. Among those charged is Leo Joseph Govoni, a 67-year-old from Clearwater, who is facing serious allegations of stealing and misappropriating funds from clients of a non-profit organization that manages assets for individuals with disabilities. Govoni reportedly created over a hundred shell companies to facilitate his fraudulent actions.
On June 3, 2025, a court order compelled Govoni to transfer stock ownership in Big Storm Brewery to a Chapter 11 trustee as a further consequence of his criminal activities. In another case, Alexis Del Sol Perez, aged 48, has been implicated in a scheme that involved recruiting individuals for staged traffic accidents, leading them to seek medical treatment at his rehabilitation clinic located in Tampa. Together with Carlos Del Sol, 30, who aided in managing fraudulent insurance documents, the two allegedly profited approximately $4.7 million from their operations.
Another individual, Greisys Cuellar Hernandez, 41, has also been charged for her involvement in staging traffic accidents, reportedly making $52,000 for coordinating participant recruitment for treatment programs. Additionally, Ricardo Ramos, 49, has been accused of filing false police reports related to these staged accidents, and directing patients to exaggerate their pain levels during chiropractic consultations.
Moreover, Eric Strom Holland, 55, ran a virtual pain clinic where he unlawfully prescribed unnecessary oxycodone, dispensing over 103,000 pills without proper justification. The nationwide scope of these arrests signifies an alarming trend in healthcare fraud, which has led to Federal investigations targeting a range of fraudulent schemes, including staged accidents, kickbacks, and wrongful prescriptions for controlled substances.
The DOJ highlights the importance of such interventions as vital for safeguarding the federal healthcare programs from exploitation. The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, has underscored the imperative need to uphold the integrity of healthcare initiatives against fraudulent actors who jeopardize public trust and taxpayer resources.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the significance of the Health Care Fraud Takedown initiative, asserting that delivering justice to those engaged in fraudulent practices is a priority for federal law enforcement. The charges against these individuals are part of the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, where federal and state law enforcement agencies collaborated to bring dozens of fraudsters to justice.
As this investigation unfolds, it reveals a disturbing narrative of exploitation, emphasizing the necessity for constant vigilance and enforcement against those who target vulnerable populations and undermine the healthcare system designed to serve them. With over $14.6 billion in proposed losses, the implications of these fraudulent schemes extend beyond individual perpetrators, calling into question the integrity of healthcare practices nationwide.
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Additional Resources
- ABC Action News
- Wikipedia: Healthcare Fraud
- WFLA News
- Google Search: healthcare fraud Florida
- WPTV News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Healthcare
- Healthcare IT News
- Google News: Florida healthcare fraud
- First Coast News
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
The TAMPA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETampa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Florida State Fair, and Tampa Riverfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and technology that power the local economy such as BayCare Health System, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and KnowBe4. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERESTPetersburg.com, and HERETallahassee.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
