Florida Jury Convicts Gainesville Woman in Medicare Fraud
A federal jury found Sophie Dufort guilty of health care and wire fraud for her role in an $8.6 million scheme.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A federal jury convicted 57-year-old Gainesville resident Sophie Dufort of conspiracy and multiple counts of health care fraud. The conviction stems from an $8.6 million scheme involving fraudulent Medicare claims submitted through durable medical equipment companies.
Why it matters
The scheme relied on the submission of fabricated doctors' prescriptions for orthotic braces to illegally obtain Medicare funds. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to dismantle sophisticated health care billing fraud operations.
Dufort faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for conspiracy, along with 10 years for each count of health care fraud and kickback payment. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for January 2027.
The players
Sophie Dufort
She is a 57-year-old Gainesville resident who owned and managed durable medical equipment companies.
Paula Pirone
She is a resident of Ocala, Florida, who conspired with Dufort in the Medicare fraud scheme.
The details
Dufort, who owned and managed durable medical equipment companies, worked with co-conspirator Paula Pirone of Ocala to execute the fraud. They reportedly purchased fake prescriptions from marketing companies that used telemarketing calls to harvest Medicare information or illicitly accessed doctor credentials.
Timeline
2007: The Strike Force program began operations.
April 7, 2026: The Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division.
January 2027: A sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place.
Legal Context
The conviction follows the pattern of enforcement set by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which has charged over 6,200 defendants since 2007. This case reflects broader federal efforts to prosecute complex health care billing schemes across the nation.
The prosecution serves as a warning against entities misusing Medicare beneficiary information and billing for unnecessary medical equipment. Residents are encouraged to review their Medicare summary notices to report any suspicious activity or unrecognized charges.
The takeaway
Medicare fraud schemes often exploit telemarketing to illegally secure beneficiary information for fake claims. Consumers can protect themselves by closely monitoring their own medical benefit statements for equipment they never received.
What happens next
A sentencing hearing for Sophie Dufort is scheduled to occur in January 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to combat abuse of public systems at Florida Financial Crime.
More information
For official resources regarding federal oversight, visit the Health Care Fraud Unit information.
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