Debra Jean Velasquez, of Robstown, and Sylvia Salinas Ramirez, of Driscoll, have been ordered to prison in a scheme to defraud the Texas Medicaid program through fraudulent home health billings, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. The woman entered guilty pleas Sept. 4, 2013, to conspiring to submit false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid Program by wire transmissions as well as wire fraud.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack handed Velasquez, 42, and Ramirez, 52, respective terms of 51 and 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In handing down the sentence, Judge Jack noted that the sentence was necessary considering the number of victims, the need to deter future criminal conduct and to protect the public. Both will also be required to serve a term of two years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.