DALLAS — Two North Texas doctors have been sentenced for scamming insurance firms out of $45 million by giving thousands of patients pricey pain-relief shots that didn't even penetrate the skin, federal officials announced Thursday.
Twin brothers Dr. Desi Barroga and Deno Barroga, both 51, were indicted in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count each of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
They each received a six-and-a-half-year sentence for healthcare fraud on Thursday. The federal judge also ordered them to pay $9,016,883.10 in restitution.
The Barrogas operated a pain management clinic at 7515 Greenville Ave. in Dallas, Texas.
According to court documents, the brothers admitted to defrauding insurance companies by submitting claims for corticosteroid injections that were never administered. The Barrogas told insurance companies that they performed up to 80 corticosteroid injections per patient, per visit.
Federal prosecutors said thousands of patients would attend their clinic monthly, with treatment funded by major insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and United Healthcare.
"In a bizarre attempt to cover up their crimes, the defendants feigned giving injections without actually piercing the patients’ skin,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
In plea papers, the Barrogas admitted to billing insurers at least $45 million and were paid at least $9 million as part of the scheme.
The doctors also created fake medical records and instructed patients to include false statements pertaining to treatments in the record, federal officials say.
Under the terms of their plea agreement, the Barrogas agreed to surrender their DEA registrations and forfeit their medical licenses.
