Dental Imposter Arrested for Medicaid Fraud
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Orlando Sotolongo Guarton has been charged with practicing dentistry without a license and submitting fraudulent Medicaid claims. Press reports indicate that he practiced for a year by pretending to be Dr. Lorenzo Puentes, a licensed dentist.
An investigation by the Florida Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that Sotolongo, 48, had been treating patients under Puentes's name, providing invasive dental services, and issuing prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers. The dental services Sotolongo performed included extractions, sometimes done without anesthesia. He also submitted Medicaid claims for the dental services performed as if he were a licensed dentist, defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $1,600. The level of Dr. Puentes's potential involvement is still under investigation.
One elderly Medicaid recipient identified Sotolongo as the person who performed extensive dental work on him, including extracting all of his teeth and providing him with dentures. A second Medicaid patient told investigators that Sotolongo performed surgery on him to remove an abscessed tooth. Both patients identified Sotolongo in a photo lineup as the "dentist" who worked under the name Dr. Lorenzo Puentes—and when shown a picture of the real Dr. Puentes, they were unable to identify him.
The investigation into Sotolongo's activities was initiated by information received from the Florida Department of Health. A search warrant was executed today at Puentes Dental Services, where Sotolongo worked. The investigation into the Medicaid fraud is ongoing.
Sotolongo is charged with five counts of practicing dentistry without a license and one count of Medicaid fraud, both third-degree felonies. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 30 years in prison and $30,000 in fines. The case will be prosecuted by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office.
A copy of the arrest warrant for Sotolongo is posted on Casewatch.
This article was posted on March 28, 2006.