updated 2/10/2012 6:27:37 PM ET 2012-02-10T23:27:37

An Illinois man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for shipping unwanted penis enlargers to diabetes patients in a scheme to bilk Medicare of more than $2.2 million.

  1. Don't miss these Health stories
    1. Facebook is now fueling organ donations

      Becky Melton’s “friend” request to Jerry Wilde, a complete stranger in dire need of a new kidney, came with a photo and a gift. The texted photo: a picture of Melton, 28, holding a hand-drawn sign showing two kidneys and a message -- “We’re a match!

    2. Why you should smile at strangers
    3. Grill, drive, play: Doc's tips for Memorial Day safety
    4. Cheating guys more likely to die of a heart attack
    5. German doctors apologize for Holocaust horrors

Gary Winner, of Wheeling, Ill., was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island on Friday to a 37-month sentence and was ordered to pay restitution.

Winner pleaded guilty in November to purchasing enlargers for about $26 each and shipping them to patients, claiming the devices helped "bladder control, urinary flow and prostate comfort."

Prosecutors say Winner billed Medicare an average of $284 for each item.

Prosecutors also allege Winner swindled more than $1.8 million by seeking reimbursement for arthritic packages he claimed Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians ordered.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,

Most active discussions

  1. votes comments
  2. votes comments
  3. votes comments
  4. votes comments
  1. Jump to text

    An Illinois man has been sentenced to more than ...

  2. Jump to discussion

    Man gets 3 years in erectile pump case