U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney

Southern District of Florida   

99 N.E. 4 Street,

(305)961-9001

December 7, 2007

NEWS RELEASE :

MONEY LAUNDERER SENTENCED TO 78 MONTHS IN JAIL  SENTENCE ON DME AND INFUSION FRAUD SCHEME .

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today that defendant, Leonel Galdos, Jr. , was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez to 78 months in prison.  In September 2007, a Miami jury found Galdos guilty of money laundering conspiracy charges and of making false statements to a Federal Grand Jury.

        Galdos was the last of twelve defendants to be convicted in connection with a $6,400,000 health care fraud and money laundering scheme that centered around a series of durable medical equipment companies and HIV infusion clinics that were operated by co-defendant and ringleader, Raul Rodriguez , 34, of Miramar, in 2004 and 2005. Rodriguez received a nine year prison sentence on November 30, 2007. His sister and co-conspirator, Edith Balog , was also sentenced today to a 27 month prison term for her role as a straw owner of one of Rodriguez’s durable medical equipment companies.

        In furtherance of the fraud scheme, Rodriguez laundered a substantial portion of the health care fraud proceeds through a series of shell corporations set up for the sole purpose of concealing the illicit monies.  Galdos was the owner of one of the shell companies and also recruited other individuals to act as nominee owners of another shell company and a fraudulent medical clinic. In December 2005, a Miami Federal grand jury subpoenaed Galdos to testify about his involvement with the money laundering scheme.  Glados testified falsely that he had never even heard of the shell company when, in fact, the evidence at trial proved he incorporated the company with the State of Florida.  Evidence at trial established that Galdos repeatedly lied to FBI agents about his involvement in the money laundering ring.

Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation .  This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney William J. Parente Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey E. Marcus.

        A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov .