Photo: CBS 12
A Florida dentist and her husband face charges of stealing from Medicaid and thousands of recipients.
Attorney General Ashley Moody's office says Marianna Zadov and Shimon Leizgold ripped off the system and their patients to the tune of over $1.5 million.
The couple ran the alleged fraud operation out of Elite Dental in Jupiter, Polo Dental in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Naples, Royal Dental in Boynton Beach and Happy Smiles in Fort Myers and Port St. Lucie.
Moody says over 5,000 people were overcharged for routine procedures and in some cases the suspects billed patients and Medicaid for services never rendered.
Cinthya Lavin with the Better Business Bureau tells CBS 12 News that patients can take one important step to protect themselves.
“It's important to take a look at your bill, even if you are paying through insurance, we usually insurance companies tend to send you a bill of what was charged. And if you really want to make sure you have to look at the breakdown from the insurance company."
Zadov and Leizgold have been held without bond since their arrests earlier this month but an emergency hearing is being held on Thursday in a Palm Beach County courtroom. It's an attempt by their attorneys to get them out of jail.