Man Sentenced To 3 Years For Penis Pump Fraud

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Feb 10, 2012 11:20PM

A Wheeling, Ill., man was sentenced to more than three years in prison after he swindled $2.2 million from Medicare by mailing unwanted penis enlargers to diabetes patients.

Gary Winner, 50, bought cheap penis pumps from sex shops for about $26, then he sold them through his medical equipment company, Planned Eldercare, with claims that they helped "bladder control, urinary flow and prostate comfort."

He then billed Medicare about $284 each, since Medicare reimburses for erectile dysfunction treatment.

Those diabetes patients didn't always ask for the supplies, either.

The Associated Press writes:

When employees confronted Winner about sending out supplies regardless of need, authorities allege he responded: “It doesn’t cost the client anything as the government is paying for it, and that the government would just print more money, so order more.” Prosecutors also say he told patients inquiring about items they didn’t order to “put them under the sink.”

He pleaded guilty to health care fraud, money laundering and something called "the introduction of an adulterated and misbranded medical device into interstate commerce." In addition to prison time, Winner also has to fork over the $2.2 million and another $12,500 fine.