Joel Rufus French, a former college football star at the University of Mississippi, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for his involvement in a massive $197 million Medicare fraud scheme. The fraud targeted senior citizens and disabled veterans, preying on their vulnerabilities.
The Fraud Scheme and Conviction
French, 48, was convicted in February of several charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to offer, pay, solicit, and receive kickbacks.
The fraudulent scheme involved selling patient information and fake doctors’ orders for unnecessary orthotic braces, which patients did not want, and then billing Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) for these devices.
French was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison and ordered to pay $111 million in restitution. Additionally, approximately $17 million was forfeited after being seized from French’s bank accounts.
Preying on Vulnerable Populations
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, French’s scheme involved working with overseas telemarketing call centers to convince elderly Americans and disabled veterans to provide their personal information and agree to receiving unnecessary medical devices. In some cases, these telemarketing centers altered the call recordings to facilitate the fraud.
French then sold these fake doctor’s orders to marketers and companies, who submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare. Through his eight durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies, French defrauded Medicare and CHAMPVA by billing for orthotic braces that were never provided to patients.
The Scheme’s Impact and French’s Role
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald from the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division stated, “This corrupt scheme preyed on senior citizens and disabled veterans to flood the country with unnecessary medical devices — and then billed the taxpayer for it.” He emphasized that the sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit America’s vulnerable populations will be held accountable.
French also laundered approximately $225,000 in cash, including more than $10,000 which was used to pay accomplices involved in the scheme.
French’s Athletic Career
Before his criminal activities, Joel Rufus French was known as a standout college football player. He played as a tight end for the University of Mississippi Rebels from 1996 to 1998 and was a unanimous All-American pick in 1998.
After college, French signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Although he spent two seasons with Seattle and later joined the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, French never appeared in an NFL game.
Family Ties
French’s son, Charleston, currently plays football at the University of North Carolina, continuing the family’s athletic legacy.
