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Medicare beneficiaries and the United States government

The person at the center of this case

Medicare beneficiaries and the United States government

Case
#1100
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; FBI
Cold Case ยท Open - Fugitive at Large
18 years waiting ยท since 2008

CARLOS BENITEZ

Justice for Medicare beneficiaries and the United States government โ€” the trail went cold in 2008, but the truth hasn't.

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Key leads to think about

๐ŸŽฏ
suspect
Lead #1

Where is Carlos Benitez currently located? He may have fled to Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or Nicaragua.

๐Ÿ”
evidence
Lead #2

What records exist documenting the eleven medical clinics and their ownership structures through straw companies?

๐Ÿ’ก
clue
Lead #3

How much money was successfully laundered through the sham companies, and where did those funds ultimately go?

Carlos Benitez is wanted for his alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme operating through eleven medical clinics in Miami-Dade, Florida between 2001 and 2004. The scheme involved providing medically unnecessary HIV infusion treatments, paying kickbacks to patients for their Medicare information, and laundering millions through sham companies. Benitez was indicted on May 22, 2008, and remains a fugitive who may have fled to Central America or the Caribbean.

Case
#1100
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; FBI

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More leads to consider

Beyond the top three above โ€” each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.

๐Ÿ‘๏ธ
witness
Lead #4

Which Medicare beneficiaries received kickbacks and can provide testimony about the unnecessary treatments?

Have information about any of these leads?

Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.

Official wording

Source Narrative

Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, to Cause the Submission of False Claims, and to Pay Health Care Kickbacks; Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud; Submission of False Claims; Money Laundering Conspiracy; Money Laundering Caution: Carlos Benitez, Luis Benitez and Jose Benitez are wanted for their alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud Medicare in the Miami-Dade area of Florida. It is alleged that from 2001 through 2004, the Benitez brothers, using straw owners to disguise their own involvement, owned and directed eleven medical clinics that purportedly provided HIV infusion treatment to infected Medicare beneficiaries.

However, the medication that was alleged to have been given to the patients was medically unnecessary and often never given to the patients. The patients received kickbacks for their Medicare information.

The Benitez brothers then allegedly opened sham companies to launder millions of dollars coming into the clinics from Medicare. On May 22, 2008, the Benitez brothers were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, for conspiracy to defraud the United States, to cause the submission of false claims, and to pay health care kickbacks; conspiracy to commit health care fraud; submission of false claims; money laundering conspiracy; and money laundering.

That same day, federal warrants were issued for their arrests. Remarks: Carlos Benitez may have traveled to Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Timeline of Events

๐Ÿ“‹
2001

Fraudulent clinic operations begin

Benitez brothers begin operating eleven medical clinics using straw owners as cover

๐Ÿ“‹
2004

Scheme operations end

Multi-year Medicare fraud and money laundering scheme concludes

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ
2008-05-22

Federal indictment issued

Carlos Benitez indicted by Federal Grand Jury for conspiracy to defraud the United States, health care fraud, false claims, and money laundering

Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case

Case Information

Incident:January 1, 2001
Last Updated:June 16, 2026

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Case Information

Incident:January 1, 2001
Last Updated:June 16, 2026