Three more convictions tied to New Orleans Medicaid fraud
Compliance Monitor, September 16, 2009
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Three women were convicted of Medicaid fraud by a federal judge in New Orleans according to a Department of Justice Press Release (DOJ). The largest conviction belongs to Ernestine Girod who faces 270 years in prison and more than $7 million in fines.
Girod’s co-conspirators, Una Favorite Brown and Melinda Langley, face 120 years in prison and $3.5 million fines and 105 years in prison and 2.7 million in fines, respectively.
Several counts of healthcare fraud and false statements from Medicaid provider, “A New Beginning of New Orleans, Inc” spurred an investigation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OIG, FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The DOJ details that Brown and Langley worked for the company, and Girod was the mother of Medicaid recipients who were allegedly serviced by “A New Beginning.”
The team effort of employees and patient’s parents totaled more than $3.9 million in fraudulent claims paid by Medicaid.
In March “A New Beginning” owner, Akasia Lee, and her brother, Queban, pleaded guilty in connection with the fraud. Akasia Lee faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
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