Florida Men Sentenced in $34.8M Medicare Orthotic-Brace Fraud Conspiracy

September 4, 2026 (sentencing announced)

DOJ’s clean $34.8M billed narrative travels intact through most coverage, while sentencing-memo discussion of ~$17.6M CMS restitution and the gap between headline “multiple years” and 33/24-month terms are the main precision checks.

Sources

• Primary (DOJ OPA, Friday, September 4, 2026): Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries (Press Release Number: 26-1025)
• Defense sentencing materials (secondary / filings context only): PACERMonitor docket excerpt for USA v. Kenneth Charles Kessler III, flsdce-25-60188 — defense sentencing memo discussed restitution of $17,617,464 to CMS as a statutory restitution amount in filings. Not treated here as a verified final judgment restitution order.