Oceanside Man Arrested, Suspected in Medicare Scam

The owner and operator of a medical supply company in Oceanside was facing federal charges today tied to an alleged $1.3 million scam involving the filing of fraudulent power-wheelchair claims to Medicare.

Jose Melendez of Oceanside Medical Services was arrested Wednesday in Long Beach and arraigned on charges of conspiracy, witness tampering and health care fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

Also arrested in the case was Dr. Irving Schwartz, who was taken into custody on Tuesday in Yuba City and arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to receive health care kickbacks and defraud the Medicare trust fund, Duffy said in a statement.

Both defendants were scheduled to appear in federal court in San Diego Tuesday before Magistrate Nita Stormes.

Melendez faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, while Schwartz could receive up to five years, Duffy said.

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