-Caveat Lector- Florida State Senator Pleads Guilty By TRACY FIELDS .c The Associated Press MIAMI (AP) - A state senator pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a Medicare fraud case and must resign from the Legislature, where he has served for 15 years. State Sen. Alberto Gutman and his wife, Marci, were charged last year as the secret owners of companies that billed Medicare for health care services that were not performed, sometimes for clients who did not exist. The Miami Republican maintained his innocence until his plea deal was announced Tuesday in the second week of his federal trial. Prosecutors said Gutman and his wife collected at least $2 million from fraudulent billings while he served in the Legislature. Gutman, 40, declined comment Tuesday. He is expected to be given a two-year prison term at his sentencing Jan. 20. As a convicted felon, Gutman must relinquish his Senate seat. Gov. Jeb Bush will set a special election once Gutman's resignation letter is received, a spokeswoman said. Mrs. Gutman, 40, pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor Medicare fraud charge and was sentenced to three years' probation and six months' home confinement. She also agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution. The Gutmans have two children. The Gutmans were indicted along with 23 other defendants in the investigation of Mederi of Dade County Inc., a home health care provider. Investigators said they found no legitimate billings among $15 million worth of Mederi claims. The company and its owner were acquitted in May; a physical therapist was convicted. Prosecutors said Gutman used voter lists from his district to telemarket his home health-care companies and that checks from the enterprise were deposited in his personal accounts. Defense attorneys said key witnesses were trying to protect themselves by testifying against an innocent public official. Gutman was elected to the state House in 1984 and moved on to the state Senate in 1992. He narrowly won another four-year term while under indictment last November. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
