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WASHINGTON—Two Houston-area nurses and two of their co-conspirators have been sentenced in Houston for their participation in a $5.2 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS).
Two Houston-Area Nurses Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Roles in $5.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Seeded on Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:43 PM EST
Article Source: United States Department of Justice - FBI- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (5)
- Mary Ellis, 56, a registered nurse, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $401,000 in restitution. Ellis was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks, three counts of receiving illegal kickbacks and two counts of making false statements following a May 2011 trial.
- Caroline Njoku, 46, also a registered nurse, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $631,295 in restitution. Njoku was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks following a May 2011 trial.
- Terrie Porter, 48, was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison and two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $482,380 in restitution. Porter was convicted of one count of conspiracy to receive kickbacks and one count of receiving illegal kickbacks following a May 2011 trial.
- Florida Holiday Island, 62, was sentenced yesterday to 20 days in prison, five months of home detention and two and a half years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $59,739 in restitution. Island pleaded guilty in March 2011 to one count of conspiracy to receive kickbacks and one count of receiving illegal kickbacks.
- 1 vote
#1 - Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:43 PM ESTWell, Par, what do you think we'd get if we pulled an unarmed bank stickup to the tune of $5 or $8 grand? These people steal $5 million and get slaps on the wrist?
We're never going to get a handle on medicare, medicaid fraud, or any other government related fraud for that matter, until severe and hard jail time without parole is imposed on convicted perps.
- 1 vote
#2 - Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:11 PM ESTJ.W. - we'd see a decade or so in prison...
They are in the category of Martha Stew@!$%#ski /stewart.. can steal money from those who support her.. and she gets a few months in jail and the rest on her 53 acre estate. Those must of been real difficult times for her..
- 1 vote
The only way to make inroads on big time fraud is with equally big time prison sentences without parole plus confiscation of all assets gained as a result of fraud.
It appears, however, that equal protection under the laws is an empty slogan rather than a constitutionally legal principle as we have been led to believe.
#3 - Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:00 PM ESTHi Par,
I happen to know one of the defendants and was in the courtroom every day. The FBI is not telling the story correctly. There was never 5 million. It was 480,000. They FBI spent more on the case then the company actually made. Of course they have to make it seem like so much more. There was so many things they did not want to get out to the public. So much circumstantial evidence, pointing of the fingers, etc. Yes, Medicare Fraud is a terrible thing. But when your an owner of a company and you label others because you dont want to take responsibility for your actions, thats a shame. There's so much more to this story Par.
Thanks.
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