Prominent Cuban-American businessmen accused of fraud, tax evasion

Miami, Jul 22 (EFE).- Cuban-American businessmen Carlos and Jorge De Cespedes, the founders of Pharmed Group, one of South Florida's most prominent medical supply companies, on Tuesday were charged with fraud and tax evasion in a federal court in Miami. The brothers are accused of bilking Kendall Regional Medical Center out of several million dollars and, in an unrelated case, not declaring to tax authorities about $21 million in income. Federal prosecutors in South Florida reported that the De Cespedes brothers allegedly conspired with other people to commit fraud by issuing between $2.5 million and $7 million in purchase orders for medical supplies that were never delivered to the hospital. "These individuals had it all - success, money and the admiration of their community," U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said in a... [read full story]