Check firm accused of laundering money

MIAMI, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities allege three Miami brothers laundered at least $24 million in fraudulently obtained Medicare funds through a now-defunct check-cashing company.

The $24 million Carlos, Luis and Jose Benitez are accused of funneling through La Bamba Check Cashing is just part of $84 million in stolen Medicare money the FBI alleges in an affidavit that they shipped to the Dominican Republic, The Miami Herald reported Monday. La Bamba Check Cashing was indicted along with its president in a separate case earlier this year, the newspaper noted.

The FBI affidavit also alleges the Cuban-born brothers in 2003 transferred about $3.3 million in Medicare fraud proceeds to Dominican Republic bank accounts. The affidavit backs efforts to seize their bank accounts and other assets in the Caribbean nation, including a water park, houses, apartments, hotels, a helicopter, vehicles and boats.

It is suspected the Benitez brothers have fled to Cuba.