United States – A licensed physical therapist with Filipino roots is now among the most wanted health care fraud fugitives in the United States, and investigators think he may be living in the Philippines.
According to a wanted notice posted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), Conrado Dizon Lopez Jr. is being sought after he admitted to his role in a massive scheme that cheated Medicare and Medicaid out of millions of dollars.
Who Is Conrado Dizon Lopez Jr.?
Lopez, born January 18, 1975, worked as a licensed physical therapist and owned Total Rehab, a clinic based in Brooklyn, New York. On paper, he was a trusted health provider. Behind the scenes, federal agents say he was running a fraud operation.
He reportedly confessed to OIG agents that he knowingly took part in the scheme. His clinic billed government health programs for treatments that were:
- Never actually provided to patients
- Not medically necessary
- Not properly supervised
- Performed by unlicensed workers
Lopez also admitted something that stands out to any OFW who has traveled home for a holiday. While he was overseas on vacation, patient services were still being billed under his name. When he returned, he signed backdated documents known as superbills for dates he was not even in the country, fully aware it was wrong.
The Scale of the Fraud
The numbers paint a serious picture of how much taxpayer money was involved.
- Between March 2009 and November 2011, Lopez and others filed roughly $18.4 million in false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.
- Lopez was personally listed as the rendering provider on around $2.8 million of those fraudulent claims.
The case was built in the Eastern District of New York, where prosecutors linked him to the wider conspiracy.
Where Is He Now?
This part matters most to Filipinos abroad. Authorities believe Lopez may be hiding in Manila, Philippines, or in the United Arab Emirates, two places with large OFW communities.
He faces charges including health care fraud, conspiracy, false claims, false statements, and falsification of records.
How to Report a Sighting
If you think you have seen him, the HHS OIG urges the public to help. You can:
- File a tip online at tips.oig.hhs.gov
- Call the Fugitive Hotline at (888) 476-4453
Officials remind everyone that reporting quietly and safely is the best way to assist.