Eldorado Woman Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud Charge

On August 9, 2018, Betsy J. Gutowski, 45, of Eldorado, Illinois, pled guilty in federal court to charges that she engaged in a scheme to steal from a federal health care program, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Prior to her guilty plea, Gutowski’s bond was revoked, and she remains in custody pending sentencing, which is currently set for November 15, 2018. Gutowski faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

During her plea hearing, Gutowski admitted submitting false and fraudulent bills for personal assistant services in the Home Services Program, a Medicaid waiver program designed to allow individuals to stay in their homes instead of entering a nursing home. Gutowski admitted she falsely billed the program between December 1, 2011 and October 15, 2012, when she purportedly rendered personal assistant services to a customer who, in fact, was in a hospital or nursing home at the time. In total, Gutowski improperly billed 349.5 hours of services and obtained $4,036.73 in payments for services not performed.

This prosecution is part of the "Operation Home Alone" initiative. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General,

and the Illinois State Police - Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Quinley.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.