Medi-Cal fraud ring faces prison charges

A Costa Mesa man faces more than 20 years in prison after being convicted as part of a Medi-Cal fraud ring that cost the program nearly $4.6 million.

Dante David, 51, was one of six convicted of health-care fraud and conspiracy to commit health-care fraud — charges that together can carry up to 20 years in prison, federal officials said.

David was also convicted of aggravated identity theft, which carries a two-year minimum sentence.

The six convicted join 36 others indicted last year by the FBI, the state Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The group sent unlicensed people to give in-home health care to disabled patients, many of whom were children with cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities.

A sentencing date has yet to be determined.

—Joseph Serna