Sentencing got underway for the individuals who pleaded guilty in a Medicare fraud scam involving Guam Medical Transport.
Clifford Shoemake, Kimberly Conner, Nicholas Shoemake, Thelma Joiner and Trevor Cruz worked for Guam Medical Transport, a non-emergency ambulance transportation company that provided a bulk of their services to Guam’s dialysis patients.
They each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud which racked up over $10 million in fraudulent claims for ambulance services.
While the defense hoped for just probation, the government pushed for each defendant to serve time in federal prison, with the US probation office recommending a 97-month sentence.
Late this afternoon, the sentencing hearing for Clifford was still underway as witnesses testified towards Clifford’s character, his attorney describing him as one of the best people in the world.
Clifford, meanwhile, was at a loss for words, emotionally stating “I’ve tried my best and I know that I failed.” He pleaded for leniency stating that prison time would destroy his loved ones.
The executive was sentenced to 71 months incarceration and three years of supervised release.
Cruz was sentenced to five years probation.
##
