McALLEN, Texas-Two Mexican doctors are accused of submitting more than 50,000 bogus claims to a U.S. insurance company in a $5 million benefits scam.
Federal prosecutors in Texas says fraudulent claims were faxed to Georgia-based Aflac Inc. between 2001 and 2010. Aflac policyholders allegedly were paid to sign the false reports.
Dr. Mayolo Melchor and Dr. Bertha Hernandez-Melchor, both of Reynosa, Mexico, face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and eight counts of wire fraud.
Both were indicted in 2011 in South Texas, arrested in Mexico and extradited to Houston. Melchor faces a detention hearing Thursday in McAllen. A federal magistrate Tuesday ordered Hernandez-Melchor to remain in custody.
Lawyers representing the doctors didn't immediately return messages Wednesday.
Prosecutors had no immediate information on whether the physicians are related.