Marion Woman Sentenced For Healthcare Fraud

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today, that Charlietta M. Lee, 51, of Marion, Illinois, was sentenced for engaging in a scheme to commit health care fraud by defrauding the Home Services Program, which is a Medicaid Waiver Program designed to allow individuals to stay in their homes instead of entering a nursing home.

The district court in Benton sentenced Lee to serve five years of probation, and a pay a $100 special assessment. Lee was also ordered to pay $25,820.70 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Human Services and to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. During her plea hearing, Lee admitted that she had submitted false and fraudulent bills in relation to her alleged performance of personal assistant services to a customer. She had been engaged in other employment during times she billed for performing personal assistance. As a result, Lee improperly billed $25,820.70 in payments for services not performed.

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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William E. Coonan and Michael Hallock.

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.