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Feds say a Sarasota nurse’s alleged ‘lavish way of life’ included Buccaneers tickets and a luxurious suite.
The federal indictment against a Sarasota nurse practitioner goes past allegations of a $118 million Medicare fraud scheme, detailing what prosecutors describe as “lavish lifestyles” funded by the proceeds.
Leigh Tesar, 44, of Sarasota, together with Walter Presha Jr., 51, of Ellenton, and Koby Evans, 31, of Apollo Beach, had been accused of collaborating in a wound care fraud scheme that allegedly billed Medicare greater than $118 million, in keeping with fees introduced as a part of the Justice Department’s nationwide 2026 well being care fraud takedown.
They had been charged by indictment for his or her alleged roles within the scheme, which authorities stated resulted in Medicare paying about $61 million in false claims.
Sarasota nurse case a part of broader Florida fraud crackdown
Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi, 58, of Miami, fled the nation shortly after quite a few unfavorable critiques had been posted on-line alleging that certainly one of his corporations, Sunshine Senior Solutions LLC, a medical gear retailer in Delray Beach, was committing well being care fraud, in keeping with court docket papers.
Court papers additionally present that Hilmi’s corporations billed for wound care, which the federal government says is more and more a supply of fraudulent billing. Medicare claims for allografts, that are often constructed from placental tissue to heal wounds, like particular bandages, have ballooned from $200 million in 2019 to $14.4 billion in 2025, in keeping with The New York Times.
The expensive patches had been entrance and heart in quite a lot of circumstances on this dragnet, together with the one involving the trio led by Sarasota nurse practitioner Tesar, in keeping with court docket papers.
The authorities says she and Presha and Evans coordinated their actions in order that the Medicare beneficiaries’ names could be supplied to Tesar, who would then invoice wound care bills to Medicare on behalf of the beneficiaries. Medicare was fraudulently billed over 18 months for $118 million in wound care that method, in keeping with court docket papers.
Indictment particulars Sarasota nurse’s alleged lavish way of life
Court papers allude to Tesar scouting out Medicare beneficiaries whom she might make claims on as needing the expensive patches.
“On or about September 16, 2024, Leigh Tesar sent text messages to (her accused co-conspirator) stating, ‘I can just go from room to room looking for wounds,’ immediately followed by ‘that might be illegal, but oh well,’” in keeping with court docket papers.
“Tesar and others used the proceeds of the scheme to defraud to fund their lavish life, together with spending over $215,000 for Tampa Bay Buccaneers tickets and a luxurious field suite at Raymond James Stadium, and over $400,000 for nice artwork,” the indictment says.
Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
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