‘Sober homes’ owner sentenced to 30 months in prison over kickback scheme

Gavel. (Generic) (Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A judge sentenced the owner of the Deerfield Beach-based Turning Point Sober Home to 30 months in prison on Wednesday in federal court.

Marthe Hippolyte, who operated several drug-and-alcohol-free residences, had pleaded guilty on Jan. 25, to one count of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act.

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Prosecutors accused Hippolyte, 59, of accepting about $254,000 in kickbacks and bribes from Kenneth Chatman, the operator of a substance abuse treatment center who was convicted of a $4.5 million fraud and sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Investigators believe Hippolyte, of Wellington, brought patients from out of state to require them to go to the center several times a week for testing and treatment as part of the fraud.

FBI Miami’s special agents got involved after the Greater Palm Beach Health Care Fraud Task Force started the investigation.


About the Author
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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