El Paso Medical Equipment Supplier Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.7 Million Healthcare Fraud Scheme

EL PASO, Texas - An El Paso woman was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

According to court documents, Edelmira Marquez, 59, engaged in fraudulent billing practices as the owner of Marquez Medical Supply, a durable medical equipment company located in El Paso. Marquez's scheme involved substituting and providing lesser valued items to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries/patients, then billing Medicaid and Medicare for the greater valued items. The items were primarily continence supplies including adult diapers. wipes and bed liners.

Marquez was summoned to court Dec. 21, 2023. She made her initial appearance Jan. 19, 2024, and was released on bond. She pleaded guilty to the single count on March 7. Upon sentencing, Marquez was remanded into federal custody. In addition to her imprisonment, Marquez was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $1,739,608.59 in restitution to Medicaid.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof prosecuted the case.

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