Orlando clinic CEO and VA employee sentenced for kickbacks steering VA Community Care patients
Published November 8, 2026 · Coverage November 1–7, 2026, Pacific · Lower priority
DOJ's National Fraud Enforcement Division announced on November 5 that Laurent Cassagnol, a VA Community Care Program Advanced Medical Support Assistant, was sentenced to 6 months in prison and Heriberto Rivera, CEO of Family Integrative Medicine of Orlando, LLC, to 13 months, with forfeitures of $175,172 and $515,542. According to the release, Rivera paid Cassagnol to use his VA position to steer veterans to Rivera's clinic, and over $14 million in claims were submitted to the VA, of which over $11 million was paid.
Background
According to court documents described in the release, the two men conspired to pay and receive illegal kickbacks and bribes to direct veterans and their families who were patients of the VA Community Care Program to Rivera's clinic for acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and other holistic medical services. The investigation began with a complaint to the fraud hotline of the VA Office of the Inspector General.
Who this affects
Providers participating in the VA Community Care Program and staff who interact with VA referral coordinators.
Why it matters
Inference: in this case, payments to a VA employee who steered patients to a clinic were prosecuted as illegal health care kickbacks and bribes; VA Community Care referral relationships need the same controls as other referral sources.
Recommended action
- Remind staff who work with VA Community Care referral coordinators that kickbacks or bribes offered in exchange for steering patients are crimes, and consider a policy barring gifts or payments to them.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Disposition
- Responsible owner
- Compliance
- Publication date
- 2026-11-05
- Other dates
- Sentenced the day of the release ("sentenced today").
Not established
Court and statute of conviction are not named in the release.
Sources
Complete edition and supplemental material
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