ROCHESTER—Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the sentencing of Schmeka Morgan, a licensed practical nurse who stole $8,838 from the Medicaid program. Morgan, who provided private nursing services to a special needs young adult, was charged with billing for numerous hours that she did not work. Morgan pleaded guilty on November 2, 2015 to Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor. Morgan was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Judge Karen Morris in Brighton Town Court to three years’ probation and restitution of $8,838 to the state.
“Those who defraud Medicaid for personal gain will be caught and they will be prosecuted,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Many New Yorkers count on Medicaid for necessary forms of medical care and those who steal from the program are depriving both patients and taxpayers alike.”
The investigation, conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the Office of the Medicaid Fraud Inspector General (OMIG) revealed that Schmeka Morgan, age 34 of Rochester, repeatedly billed the Medicaid program for work she never performed. Hired to provide services to a medically fragile person, for a four month period of time Morgan billed for numerous hours of care that she did not provide to the individual, thereby accruing over eight thousand dollars in false billings.
The case was investigated by Special Investigator David Giudici and Auditor/ Investigator Jennifer Harrison with assistance from MFCU Deputy Chief Investigator William Falk and OMIG Investigator Colleen Balkin. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Timothy McFarland. Catherine Wagner is Director of the Rochester Regional MFCU Office and the Upstate Chief of Criminal Investigations. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul Mahoney. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.
Source: A.G. Schneiderman Announces Sentencing Of Rochester Nurse Who Defrauded Medicaid Of Over Eight Thousand Dollars PRESS RELEASE