Owner of Texas Service Charged With Fraud

Jan. 16--MCALLEN -- The owner of a local ambulance service was released on bond Wednesday morning as he awaits trial on healthcare fraud charges.

Victor Gonzalez, 26, went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Ormsby, who ordered he be released on a $50,000 unsecured bond, meaning that no deposit was needed prior to his release, but if he fails to show up for future hearings, Gonzalez and his cosigners would be liable for the full bond amount.

Federal agents arrested Gonzalez, the owner of Victory EMS, last week after a grand jury turned in a sealed indictment charging him with five counts of healthcare fraud, three counts of identity theft and one count of mail fraud.

From December 2012 to February 2013, Gonzalez submitted 621 false claims worth $504,054 to both programs. Gonzalez was paid $339,730.26 from the claims made, the indictment says.

iortiz@themonitor.com

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