Medical Equipment Owner Sentenced for $2M Healthcare Kickback Conspiracy

TL/DR –

Michael G.V. Comino has been sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution to Medicare for conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks. Comino, co-owner of Kestrel Medical LLC, supplied medical equipment and paid kickbacks for signed doctors’ orders to two companies he owned, resulting in Medicare paying over $2 million to Kestrel. His actions were highlighted as a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, with law enforcement reiterating their commitment to combat and prevent healthcare fraud.

Medicare Fraud Leads to Prison Sentence and Restitution Order

Richard G. Frohling, acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, disclosed that U.S. District Judge Joseph P. Stadtmueller sentenced Michael G.V. Comino to a 22-month prison term on May 29, 2025. Comino was convicted for violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, involving healthcare kickbacks conspiracy. He is also obliged to remit over $2 million in restitution to Medicare.

Details of the Healthcare Kickback Scheme

Official court documents indicate that Comino, along with a co-defendant, owned Kestrel Medical LLC. This firm provided durable medical equipment including orthotic devices like ankle, knee, back, and shoulder braces. From August 2019, Comino began issuing “leads” or signed doctor’s orders to Kestrel in return for kickback payments to his two companies. After gaining half-ownership of Kestrel in February 2020, Comino persisted in the illicit kickback scheme. The duo masked the nature of these payments by backing them up with invoices for marketing hours, resulting in Medicare remitting over $2 million to Kestrel. Comino personally profited hundreds of thousands of dollars from Kestrel in 2019 and 2020.

Government Officials Condemn the Fraudulent Kickback Activities

“The U.S. Attorney Office is committed to combating healthcare fraud and holding culpable individuals who deliberately misuse Medicare and Medicaid funds,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge, Michael Hensle, added, “Healthcare kickback schemes won’t be tolerated, and those involved must face the consequences of their actions.” Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), reiterated their commitment to preserving federal healthcare programs’ integrity.

Investigation and Prosecution of the Case

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted the case, with the FBI and HHS-OIG conducting the investigation.

For further inquiries, contact Public Information Officer at Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov or (414) 297-1700. Follow updates on this case on Twitter