MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A married couple from Macomb County has been sentenced for their roles in a fraud scheme that involved more than $5 million in kickbacks and bribes.
Noili and Isabel Tcruz will collectively spend nearly 10 years behind bars. The two were charged in 2020 with tax evasion and multiple health care fraud offenses involving their home health care companies after officials reportedly uncovered a scheme dating back to 2007.
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According to authorities, the Tcruzes engaged in an approximately $5 million conspiracy to illegally pay kickbacks and bribes to acquire referrals for home health care for Medicare beneficiaries and refused to pay their income tax obligations for personal and business taxes. The two avoided paying over $600,000 in taxes by using business funds for more than $440,000 in personal expenses and diverting money through others, who would then use the money to pay for the Tcruz’ personal expenses.
The money was reportedly used to buy a $675,000 house in Michigan and a $925,000 house in Nevada.
After their last home health company closed in February 2020, the two began defrauding a COVID program by using a family member’s identity and company to steal from the Small Business Administration and Health and Human Services out of more than $250,000 from pandemic assistance funds.
On Thursday, Sept. 5, Noli Tcruz was sentenced to six years in prison and Isabel Tcruz was sentenced to 38 months in prison.
