The Justice Department announced October 7, 2026 that a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Joseph Rodriguez, 58, of Coral Springs, a laboratory vice president who ran a marketing company, Phoenix Health, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Rodriguez organized drive-through COVID-19 testing events at residence country clubs in the West Palm Beach area. Elderly patients who signed up for nasal swab and antibody tests were also subjected to tens or even hundreds of unnecessary blood tests, from hormone tests to heavy metal panels, that no doctor ordered. Those were billed to Medicare as medically necessary, with a doctor’s name fraudulently listed on the claims.
The claims covered tests at nine clubs over about four months involving almost 2,000 patients. Medicare was billed more than $15 million and paid over $500,000. Each count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and sentencing is expected in January 2027.