West Monroe, LA — A Louisiana businessman has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $3.8 million scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting false claims for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
Michael L. Riggins, 62, of West Monroe, admitted in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court documents, Riggins owned Bluewater Healthcare, a DME supply company, and operated the scheme from 2018 to 2023.
Prosecutors say Riggins paid for doctors’ orders and manipulated medical professionals into signing off on unnecessary DME prescriptions and certificates of medical necessity. Despite receiving hundreds of complaints, he continued to submit fraudulent claims, ultimately billing Medicare for over $3.8 million and receiving more than $1.8 million in reimbursements.
Riggins is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2 and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. His sentence will be determined by a federal judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Samantha Usher and Kelly Z. Walters of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin McCoy for the Western District of Louisiana.
Federal officials emphasized the department’s ongoing commitment to cracking down on healthcare fraud and protecting taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare.
