SEANGWORLD FACT BRIEF · SEANGWORLDNEWS · 1 SOURCE
Two Florida men sentenced to prison for $34.8 million Medicare health care fraud involving unnecessary orthotic braces
Kenneth Charles Kessler III and Michael Andrew Gomez, two Florida residents, were sentenced to prison for their roles in a health care fraud conspiracy that billed Medicare $34.8 million for orthotic braces sent to beneficiaries who did not need or request them. They owned and operated seven durable medical equipment companies in Florida through which they submitted false claims. They paid illegal kickbacks for fraudulent doctors' orders, shipped braces nationwide to beneficiaries without medical necessity, and shifted billing among companies to evade payment suspensions. Kessler was sentenced to 33 months and Gomez to 24 months in prison. The scheme resulted in profits exceeding $1.4 million for Kessler and $2.3 million for Gomez. Both pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Published ET · Updated ET
Corroboration
Single source · 1 SOURCE
This story cluster currently contains one independent publisher.
Source count is a transparency signal, not a truth score. Read Our Method.
Facts
- Established fact
Kenneth Charles Kessler III and Michael Andrew Gomez owned and operated seven durable medical equipment supply companies in Florida.
- Established fact
They submitted $34.8 million in false Medicare claims for medically unnecessary orthotic braces shipped to beneficiaries who did not request or need them.
- Established fact
They paid illegal kickbacks for fraudulent doctors' orders to obtain authorization for the braces.
- Established fact
They shifted fraudulent billing among their multiple companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions.
- Established fact
Kessler profited over $1.4 million and Gomez profited over $2.3 million from the scheme.
- Established fact
Kessler was sentenced to 33 months in prison and Gomez was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
- Established fact
Both pleaded guilty in May 2026 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
- Established fact
The FBI Miami Field Office and HHS Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
- Established fact
The Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division prosecuted the case.
Who is affected
Medicare beneficiaries across the nation who received unnecessary orthotic braces; Medicare program due to fraudulent billing
Sources
1 SOURCE