Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced the final arrest in a substantial Medicaid fraud case. The investigation by Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) concluded with the arrest of the last individual involved in a scheme that defrauded the Medicaid program of over $5 million. The suspects, led by Jose Enrique Hernandez Fernandez, operated a service that falsely billed Medicaid for non-emergency medical transportation trips.
The last suspect, Joseph Chacon, was arrested at Orlando International Airport on April 23, 2025. According to Attorney General Uthmeier, “this scheme defrauded Florida taxpayers and diverted resources meant for patients in need.” Uthmeier emphasized that under his leadership, the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse will be persistent.
In October 2023, twenty co-defendants were arrested in connection with the scheme. Hernandez Fernandez ran Sweet Transportation, LLC, which was contracted to provide transportation services to Medicaid recipients. Over multiple years, false claims were submitted for services not rendered, as well as inflated mileage claims. It was discovered that drivers made claims while at home, on vacation, or out of state.
Joseph Chacon, a dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica, was initially in Costa Rica when warrants were issued. Efforts to extradite him were unsuccessful. However, upon his return to the U.S., he was taken into custody at customs and handed over to the authorities. Chacon is now in Orange County Jail facing a felony charge for organizing a scheme to defraud.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting fraudulent actions against the state’s Medicaid program. They also tackle allegations of patient abuse and neglect in Medicaid-connected facilities. The MFCU operates with substantial federal funding, including a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General.
