TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Federal prosecutors announced charges Friday against several people across the Tampa Bay area as part of a nationwide health care fraud crackdown, accusing them of exploiting Medicare through a variety of alleged schemes.
“These schemes steal from taxpayers, divert care from patients who need it, and all too often put beneficiaries at risk and threaten their well-being,” said Isaac Bledsoe, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
455 people, including doctors, charged in nationwide Medicare fraud, opioid abuse schemes
The largest local case involves Leigh Tesar, Walter Presha and Koby Evans, who are accused of participating in a wound care fraud scheme that allegedly billed Medicare more than $118 million over an 18-month period.
“Tesar… Presha… and Koby Evans… were indicted for wound care fraud… a scheme that could have cost the taxpayers… $118 million,” U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe said.
According to prosecutors, the defendants targeted Medicare patients so expensive skin grafts could be billed to the government.
Investigators allege some of the grafts were never applied, were medically unnecessary or were used on patients whose wounds would not heal. Prosecutors said Medicare paid approximately $61 million on those claims, and investigators have seized about $11.8 million in assets.
Other local cases include charges against Leo Corrigan, who is accused of participating in schemes involving COVID-19 tests and genetic testing; Rustam Abdaev, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with false durable medical equipment claims; and Henry Garcia, who is accused of paying illegal kickbacks tied to Medicare brace orders.
Prosecutors also charged Pasco County attorney Marc Vincent Pazienza with wire fraud and falsification of records.
“We have an attorney… who was involved in defrauding the fraudsters,” Kehoe said. “What he did was he took their money… and in fact, he took the money and never paid it back.”
According to prosecutors, Pazienza is accused of stealing more than $300,000 from clients connected to a Medicare fraud investigation and providing false documents during a federal grand jury investigation.
Federal prosecutors said the local cases are part of a coordinated nationwide enforcement effort targeting health care fraud.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.