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Records: Medicare fraud financed lavish lifestyle

[November 23, 2010]  Authorities say the co-owners of a Miami-based chain of mental health clinics accused of bilking Medicare spent millions on luxury cars, travel and private school tuition.

Lawrence Duran and Marianella Valera and two other executives from American Therapeutic Corp. were indicted Thursday on charges of conspiring to fleece $200 million from Medicare for filing false mental health service claims.

Court records indicate the co-owners, who were romantically involved, were able to finance a lavish lifestyle, complete with frequent trips to Switzerland, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Authorities believe some of the money may have been transferred to accounts in those countries.

Their attorneys have declined to comment.

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[Associated Press]

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