Twin Doctors Admit Guilt in $45 Million Healthcare Fraud

Two pain management doctors, Desi and Deno Barroga, have admitted to orchestrating a $45 million healthcare fraud scheme. The twin brothers pled guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, submitting false claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare for corticosteroid injections that were never administered.

The Barrogas required patients to attend monthly visits to continue receiving Schedule II controlled substances, billing insurance companies for fake injections. They reported performing up to 80 injections per patient per visit, though many were never administered. They falsified medical records, often cloning information between patients.

The scheme led to the insurers being billed at least $45 million, with the doctors receiving $9 million. Under their plea agreement, they will surrender their DEA registrations and forfeit their medical licenses before sentencing. They face up to 10 years in federal prison and must pay restitution determined by the court.

The investigation was led by multiple federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Texas Department of Insurance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter is prosecuting the case.