More than five years after a jury convicted him of carrying out a $325 million health care fraud scheme over the course of nearly two decades, South Texas rheumatologist Dr. Jorge Zamora Quezada has finally learned his punishment.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced the disgraced doctor to a total of 10 years in federal prison during a hearing on Wednesday, May 21 that was packed with more than three dozen of his victims, including a 31-year-old woman who was transported to the McAllen federal courthouse via ambulance accompanied by two paramedics and her mother, who was also a victim. Miranda Hinojosa, who was the first of 19 people to deliver victim impact statements during the lengthy hearing, directly blamed Zamora Quezada for being permanently bed-bound after enduring years of unnecessary chemotherapy treatments beginning when she was just 11 years old.
The judge also ordered Zamora Quezada to pay more than $28.2 million in restitution — none of which will go to the more than 10,000 patients he victimized but will instead go toward repaying federal health insurers and private health insurers. Zamora Quezada will also get credit for the seven years he has already spent in custody. The remainder of his time behind bars could be further reduced for good behavior. Immediately, the courtroom erupted in harsh whispers as victims shook their heads and wiped tears from their faces.
