Filipino Canadian Doctor to be Sentenced in $24M Medicare Fraud Case in New Jersey

A Filipino Canadian doctor and U.S. permanent resident is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2025, by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey after being convicted earlier this year in a massive Medicare fraud case involving more than $24 million in fraudulent claims.

Dr. Alexander Baldonado, 69, of Queens, New York, was found guilty in February 2025 on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and solicitation of health care kickbacks. His conviction is the result of an extensive federal investigation that uncovered a scheme involving the submission of false claims to Medicare for unnecessary—and often undelivered—medical services.

According to court documents and trial evidence, Dr. Baldonado conspired with telemedicine companies and marketing groups to illegally profit from the Medicare system. These companies collected personal and medical information from patients across the United States and then funneled that information to Dr. Baldonado. In exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes, he authorized a variety of high-cost medical services, including cancer genetic testing and orthotic braces, regardless of medical necessity.

Prosecutors revealed that many patients had never spoken with or met Dr. Baldonado and were often unaware that tests had been ordered or that claims had been submitted in their names. In some instances, patients did not receive the results of the tests, and some services were never provided at all. Despite this, Medicare was billed for these unnecessary procedures, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.

The jury found Dr. Baldonado guilty on 10 counts. Each health care fraud-related charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States carries a maximum sentence of 5 years. The exact length of his sentence will be determined by a federal district judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and various statutory considerations.

As of this writing, Dr. Baldonado remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while awaiting his sentencing date.

The case is part of a larger effort led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which targets individuals and groups responsible for defrauding federal health care programs. The Strike Force has ramped up its efforts in recent years to identify and prosecute health care professionals engaged in fraudulent billing schemes.

Dr. Baldonado’s conviction marks a significant milestone in the ongoing crackdown on Medicare fraud and serves as a strong warning to other professionals who may consider exploiting government health programs for personal gain.

Authorities have not yet announced whether additional individuals involved in the scheme will face charges.