Miami Businesswoman Pleads Guilty To Medicare Fraud

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — A Miami woman who ran a health care service, and was honored for her work in the health care field, faces up to five years in prison for defrauding Medicare out of millions of dollars.

On Monday, Martha Lima pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay bribes to doctors to generate business.

Lima, 82, received an entrepreneurial award in 2013 from the Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States and served on the group's board.

Federal prosecutors say Lima opened Continuous Home Care Services in 2005, and used a charity called Bridge of Love and Hope to funnel money to doctors and recruiters for Medicare patient referrals.

Her son, 56-year-old Luis Lima, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit Medicare fraud.

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