Former Pharr official charged in fraud scheme
McALLEN — A former Pharr commissioner is facing multiple federal charges for his role in a scheme to defraud a health insurance company for more than $1.7 million, according to information from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Oscar Elizondo, 41, of Pharr, turned himself in to authorities Friday. The former Pharr commissioner served as a marketer for Peñitas Family Pharmacy, which also was known as Riverside Pharmacy.
The pharmacy’s owner, Omar Espericueta, 45, of Mission, was taken into custody Thursday and went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos. Both Espericueta and Elizondo were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft after a grand jury returned a 16-count sealed indictment earlier this week.
Investigators believe the scheme involved submitting more than $1.7 million in fraudulent claims to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for costly pain patches and scar creams.
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