FIFTY YEAR SENTENCE IN WHITE-COLLAR CASE AFFIRMED ON APPEAL

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals* has affirmed a 50-year sentence meted out to Lawrence Duran, in a Medicare Fraud case where $87m in false claims were submitted for payment. Duran, who was also charged with money laundering, money laundering conspiracy, and structuring, amongst others, charged that his sentence was excessive and improper. The appeals court agreed with the trial court; a 35-year sentence for another  defendant was also upheld.

White-collar defendants in high profile Medicare Fraud cases continue to receive stiff sentences in Miami, where Federal prosecutors have focused their attention on the epicentre of medicare cases. Bankers would do well to periodically check all customers who receive government funds for Medicare, to ensure that they are not unknowingly banking any fraudsters.
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*Case No.: 11-144291 (11th Cir).