Texas doctor Jorge Zamora-Quezada received a 10-year prison sentence after deliberately misdiagnosing thousands of patients with severe illnesses and subjecting them to unnecessary, harmful treatments—all to fund his extravagant lifestyle complete with a private jet, multiple luxury properties, and a Maserati.
Key Takeaways
- Jorge Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed over 73% of his Medicare patients with rheumatoid arthritis, compared to just 13% by other specialists, to justify unnecessary treatments.
- The doctor’s 18-year fraud scheme resulted in over $118 million in false claims and caused severe side effects in patients, including strokes and liver damage.
- Zamora-Quezada specifically targeted vulnerable individuals including teenagers, elderly, and disabled patients to maximize profits.
- His medical practice maintained strict procedural quotas and created a climate of fear among employees, who were forced to participate in obstructing insurance audits.
- Beyond his 10-year prison sentence, Zamora-Quezada must forfeit numerous assets and pay $28 million in restitution.
A Medical Practice Built on Deception
For nearly two decades, Jorge Zamora-Quezada operated one of the most egregious healthcare fraud schemes in recent memory. The Texas rheumatologist deliberately misdiagnosed thousands of patients with serious degenerative diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, to justify costly and unnecessary treatments. Court records revealed that an astonishing 72.9% of his nearly 100,000 Medicare patients received rheumatoid arthritis diagnoses, while the average rate for other rheumatologists was just 13%.
“It’s one of the most egregious cases of its kind the Justice Department has brought in this space, and because it was pervasive – the scheme lasted more than 18 years,” said Matthew Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
The consequences for patients went far beyond financial exploitation. Many received harmful treatments, including chemotherapy and intravenous infusions they didn’t need, resulting in severe side effects like strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, and liver damage. The doctor specifically targeted vulnerable populations—teenagers, elderly patients, and disabled individuals—knowing they would be less likely to question his authority or seek second opinions.
A Culture of Corruption and Intimidation
The fraud scheme extended throughout Zamora-Quezada’s medical practice. Former employees testified about a toxic workplace environment built around strict quotas for procedures and a climate of fear. Staff members were coerced into participating in efforts to obstruct insurance company audits by fabricating patient files. In some particularly brazen instances, ultrasounds of employees were used as documentation for fraudulent patient treatments.
“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors. Today’s sentence is not just a punishment—it’s a warning. Medical professionals who harm Americans for personal enrichment will be aggressively pursued and held accountable to protect our citizens and the public fisc.”
Justice Served After Decades of Exploitation
In 2020, a federal jury convicted Zamora-Quezada on multiple counts of healthcare fraud and obstruction of justice. His sentencing reflects the gravity of his crimes—10 years in federal prison, forfeiture of numerous assets, and a restitution order of $28 million. Prosecutors highlighted that his fraud scheme resulted in over $118 million in false claims submitted to insurers, who ultimately paid more than $28 million for unnecessary services.
“Through the false diagnoses and excessive false billing, Dr. Zamora-Quezada abused both patient trust and public resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “It is imperative to investigate and address this form of fraud — not only to protect vulnerable individuals from harm but to uphold the integrity of the federal health care system and safeguard the use of public funds.”
The investigation was a coordinated effort involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG, and the Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It represents part of a broader crackdown on healthcare fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has charged over 5,800 defendants since 2007 for more than $30 billion in fraudulent billing schemes targeting taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.
A Pattern of Medical Fraud in Texas
The Zamora-Quezada case is not isolated. In a similar case, Dr. David Young of Fredericksburg, Texas was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a $70 million Medicare fraud scheme. Young signed thousands of fake prescriptions and medical records for orthotic braces and cancer genetic testing for over 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries, receiving nearly $475,000 for his participation in the scheme.
“Medicaid fraud steals hundreds of millions from the taxpayers, and I will relentlessly pursue those who exploit these programs. This doctor will pay more than $26 million in restitution and spend 10 years in jail for his actions. In the past four years, my office has recovered nearly $1 billion for Texas taxpayers and I will continue to do everything in my power to hold wrongdoers accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton.
These cases underscore the critical need for vigilance in our healthcare system and the importance of aggressive prosecution against those who would exploit vulnerable patients and taxpayer dollars for personal gain. The sentences handed down send a clear message that betrayal of patient trust and fraudulent billing practices will face severe consequences, regardless of a perpetrator’s professional standing.
