“United States Attorney Carol C. Lam announced today that Dr. Romulo Valdez, a San Diego physician, has pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medi-Cal of more than $725,000. In his guilty plea before the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia, United States Magistrate Judge, Dr. Valdez admitted that he conspired with Benison Medical Supply, a San Diego medical equipment supplier, to defraud Medicare and Medi-Cal by submitting false claims for motorized wheelchairs. Valdez admitted that his role in the conspiracy was signing Certificates of Medical Necessity for motorized wheelchairs not needed by the beneficiaries, knowing that Benison would use Valdez’s false certifications to bill Medicare and Medi-Cal for the unneeded wheelchairs. Valdez admitted that Medicare and Medi-Cal lost over $725,000 to this conspiracy…”