Ring leader of family-run health care fraud sentenced

MIAMI (AP) - One of the leaders of a family-run health care fraud ring has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Miami Herald reports (https://hrld.us/1MwSAzp ) Hendris Morales, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Robert Scola.

Morales was accused of leading a ring that tried to rip off more than $100 million in health care insurance payments by the city of Miami, Miami-Dade County public schools and various companies.

Morales was hoping for a more lenient sentence, but Judge Scola argued that Morales showed no remorse, did not repay the victims, and has a brother who fled to Cuba with potentially millions to avoid facing fraud charges.

Prosecutors confirmed his brother, Reynaldo Castillo, and two other defendants also fled to Cuba.

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Information from: The Miami Herald, https://www.herald.com