The Department of Justice has revoked the U.S. citizenship of a Venezuelan woman who was convicted of health care fraud in South Florida, officials announced Wednesday.
Marieva Briceno, a native of Venezuela and owner of three “purported” medical clinics in the Detroit area, defrauded Medicare of more than $5.4 million by paying individuals to undergo unnecessary tests and procedures.
According to officials, Briceno and her co-conspirators carried out the scheme from May 2007 to January 2010, with Briceno personally receiving about $513,200 in fraudulent payouts.
Briceno applied for U.S. citizenship on Dec. 21, 2009, and was naturalized on March 19, 2010. On her application and during her interview under oath, she concealed her involvement in the fraud and denied committing any crimes for which she had not been arrested, the Justice Department said.
However, on Sept. 12, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged her with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She later pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Authorities did not immediately say where Briceno went after completing her sentence.
On Aug. 12, the Justice Department filed a complaint in federal court in South Florida seeking to revoke her citizenship. On Wednesday, a U.S. district judge issued the order officially stripping her of her naturalized status.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the ruling underscores the consequences of defrauding programs designed to help vulnerable citizens, adding that such crimes can lead to prosecution and even loss of U.S. citizenship.
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