04/16/2026    

PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW

CA Podiatrist Sentenced in $3.2 Million Healthcare Fraud Involving Skin Grafts

 

Felipe Ruiz, 51, DPM of Fresno, and Jose Gabriel Aguirre, 52, of Clovis were sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Judge Thurston also ordered forfeiture of nine properties owned by Aguirre and Ruiz, as well as a $2.6 million personal forfeiture money judgment against Aguirre and a $12.1 million personal forfeiture money judgement against Ruiz. According to court documents, between June 2021 and January 2024, Ruiz purchased skin grafts from Aguirre and permitted Aguirre, who was not a licensed healthcare provider, to apply the skin grafts to Medicare and Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

 

Source: OIG-HHS