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A United States physician with alleged ties to UFC legends and Hall of Famers is caught up in major fraud and money laundering charges.
Francisco Patino, a would-be physician with links to UFC legends, has been named in a $120 million-plus money-laundering scheme.
Patino is accused of allegedly seeking to defraud Medicare of more than $120 million, according to The United States Department of Justice, per MMA Fighting. The Wayne County, Michigan native has been charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of money laundering.
Patino allegedly distributed more than 2.2 million dosages of unnecessary controlled substances. He also allegedly administered medically unnecessary injections that resulted in patient harm. Patino is said to have been the top prescriber of Oxycodone 30mg in Michigan from 2016-2017. He also allegedly offered unnecessary prescriptions for addictive opioids such as fentanyl, oxycodone,c and oxymorphone from 2008 to 2018.
The alleged defrauding of Medicare is tied to unnecessary procedures and injections Patino allegedly forced patients to undergo in exchange for opioid prescriptions.
Patino allegedly laundered the proceeds of his health scheme to help build his reputation as a legitimate physician and diet guru, according to the statement. He sponsored several combat athletes, including: “prominent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) world champions and Hall of Famers.” Those fighters were not named.
The Eastern District of Michigan is handling Patino’s case and the trial is scheduled to being April 7.