McAllen Area Durable Medical Equipment Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

McALLEN, Texas ‐ The owner of Illusion Medical Equipment and Illusion Medical Equipment II LLC in McAllen has been convicted of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Willie Chester Mitchell, 33, of McAllen, entered his guilty plea today before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa.

Mitchell admitted to submitting fraudulent claims to Texas Medicaid for incontinence and diabetic supplies that were not delivered as claimed. Mitchell further admitted that to conceal his fraud, phony delivery tickets were created and doctors’ signatures were forged on the required durable medical equipment prescription forms also known as Title XIX forms. Mitchell illegally used the identity of a former employee on numerous unlawful billings.

Sentencing has been set for Dec. 11, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. At that time, Mitchell faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine for the health care fraud. For the aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory two years in prison which must be served consecutively to any other prison sentence imposed.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services‐Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Day is prosecuting the case