A Texas doctor who exploited his medical credentials to orchestrate a multimillion-dollar scam—built on lies and fake diagnoses—has been sentenced to a decade behind bars.
Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, was found guilty of falsely diagnosing patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and irreversible disease, in order to collect massive sums from both government and private insurance companies. The fraudulent operation netted him $118 million and financed a life of extreme luxury.
Along with the 10-year prison sentence, the federal court ordered Zamora-Quezada to surrender more than $28 million in assets. This included a lavish collection of possessions: 13 properties, a private jet, and a Maserati GranTurismo.
In a statement following the sentencing, Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division said:
“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money. His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors.”
Zamora-Quezada operated the scheme out of his clinic in Mission, Texas, near the U.S.–Mexico border. Evidence presented in court showed that his employees were often mistreated and intimidated into going along with the deception, many fearing for their jobs and legal status.
Prosecutors detailed how the doctor routinely subjected patients to unnecessary and dangerous medical interventions. These included infusions, injections, x-rays, MRIs, and other procedures—often carrying serious health risks. He would then forge documents and lie to insurers to justify the billing.
Some patients suffered devastating health consequences. According to the DOJ, those harmed experienced side effects such as strokes, jawbone necrosis, liver damage, hair loss, and excruciating pain that made even basic daily activities unbearable.
“Constantly being in bed and being unable to get up from bed alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn’t feel like my life had any meaning,” one patient testified during the 25-day trial.
A mother described her child being treated like a “lab rat,” while others said they gave up on dreams of higher education or felt as if they were “living a life in the body of an elderly person.”
Doctors from the Rio Grande Valley also testified against Zamora-Quezada, telling the court that many of his supposed patients were actually healthy when examined under their care.
Adding to the disturbing picture, the DOJ shared photographs of how patient records were stored: in a dilapidated shed infested with rodents and termites, littered with waste and contaminated documents.
Authorities also revealed that the doctor weaponized immigration status to exert control over his employees. He referred to himself as “eminencia”—Spanish for “eminence”—and had no qualms about using violence or coercion. One incident involved him throwing a paperweight at a staff member who failed to schedule enough fake procedures. Others were threatened with deportation if they didn’t comply, as many were hired on J-1 visas.
When questioned about missing records, Zamora-Quezada would reportedly instruct his staff to fabricate patient files on demand.
Ultimately, the jury convicted him on several charges: one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, seven counts of healthcare fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
{Matzav.com}