HOUSTON, Texas — Three individuals have been charged in a $6 million Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme involving a local dental clinic, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Christian Agno Aquino, 42, of Humble, was taken into custody today and is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. Rene Gaviola, 67, and Ifeanyi Ndubisi Ozoh, 51, both of Houston, were previously arrested on similar charges in August 2022 and are set to make their appearances on the superseding indictment tomorrow.
The charges allege that Gaviola operated the Floss Family Dental Care clinic in Houston, with Ozoh and Aquino serving as managers. The superseding indictment states that Gaviola and other employees submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for pediatric dental services, including cavity fillings that were either not provided by Floss or were not conducted by licensed individuals. It is further alleged that Floss employed an unlicensed individual to practice dentistry under Gaviola’s direction, while billing Medicaid as if the services were provided by a licensed dentist.