The person at the center of this case
Medicare beneficiaries and the United States Government
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive Wanted
17 years waiting · since 2008
JOSE BENITEZ
Justice for Medicare beneficiaries and the United States Government — the trail went cold in 2008, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where has Jose Benitez been hiding since May 2008? Has he remained in the Caribbean region or returned to the United States?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What financial records or bank accounts in Cuba, Dominican Republic, or Nicaragua could trace the laundered millions from the Medicare fraud scheme?
👤
person
Lead #3What roles did straw owners play in the clinic operations, and can they provide information about the Benitez brothers' current whereabouts?
Jose Benitez, along with his brothers Carlos and Luis, is wanted for his alleged role in a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme operating through eleven medical clinics in the Miami-Dade area from 2001 to 2004. The scheme involved billing Medicare for unnecessary HIV infusion treatments that were often never administered, while paying kickbacks to patients for their Medicare information and laundering proceeds through shell companies. Despite being indicted and having federal arrest warrants issued in May 2008, Jose Benitez remains a fugitive and may have fled to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or Nicaragua.
Case
#1101
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Did any of the eleven medical clinics continue operating under different ownership after 2004, potentially indicating ongoing fraud?
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: Jose Benitez, Carlos Benitez , and Luis 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: Jose Benitez may have travelled to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2001-01-01
Fraudulent Clinic Operations Begin
The Benitez brothers allegedly began operating eleven medical clinics using straw owners to disguise their involvement in the Miami-Dade area.
🕵️
2004-12-31
Fraudulent Operations End
The alleged scheme to defraud Medicare through unnecessary treatments and kickbacks concluded by the end of 2004.
🕵️
2008-05-22
Federal Indictment and Arrest Warrants
Jose Benitez, Carlos Benitez, and Luis Benitez were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for conspiracy to defraud the United States, health care fraud, submission of false claims, and money laundering. Federal arrest warrants were issued the same day.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2001
Last Updated:May 10, 2026
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2001
Last Updated:May 10, 2026