Medford Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security, Medicare, MassHealth, and Food Stamp Fraud
On November 27, 2018, a Medford woman pleaded guilty in US District Court in Boston for allegedly stealing over $100,000 through various larceny schemes defrauding state agencies of benefits. The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of public funds, two counts of making false statements, and one count of falsely representing a Social Security number.
BSI’s investigation revealed that from October 2007 through May 2017, the defendant stole $73,288 in Social Security benefits, $8,455 in Medicare benefits, $8,615 in MassHealth benefits, and $17,929 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (food stamps). Additionally, in September 2015, the defendant falsely informed the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance that she did not have any income while she was working as a personal care attendant (PCA). And in March 2016, the defendant falsely reported to the Social Security Administration that she did not take care of any other individuals while she was working as a PCA and falsely represented her Social Security number on a timesheet submitted while working in that capacity.
BSI collaborated with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General over the course of its investigation; the US Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Tewksbury Woman Pleads Guilty, Sentenced for Submitting False Timesheets
On December 13, 2018, a Tewksbury woman pleaded guilty and was sentenced for a scheme to defraud MassHealth in Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. The woman, who submitted false timesheets claiming that she provided PCA services to her aunt after the aunt’s hospitalization and death, pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid false claims and one count of larceny over $250.
Based on BSI’s investigative efforts and collaboration with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division, a Middlesex County grand jury indicted the defendant for allegedly stealing more than $10,000 in MassHealth benefits from September 2016 through April 2017. After her plea, the defendant was sentenced to one year in the House of Corrections, suspended for three years, with the conditions that she is prohibited from providing any service that is billed directly or indirectly to MassHealth and that she pay restitution of up to $12,360.
BSI Staff Training
In December 2018, BSI’s legal counsel gave a presentation on discovery to BSI staff members. The presentation, which covered a wide array of topics, is part of an ongoing series to promote staff education, development, and training. Moreover, these presentations equip BSI’s staff with the tools and information to work smarter and more efficiently in safeguarding the Commonwealth’s public assistance benefit programs.
| Date published: | May 1, 2019 |
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