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Branford Woman Stole $61K From Disabled Medicaid Recipient: Prosecutor
A Connecticut woman has been charged with stealing over $61,000 from a trust account meant to support a disabled Medicaid recipient, authorities said.
Jennifer Rose, 47, of Branford, was arrested by state Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit after an investigation revealed she allegedly drained the trust account during her time as trustee from Jan. 2020 to Jan. 2021, state prosecutors said.
According to court documents, Rose used the funds, intended to cover the care and well-being of the disabled beneficiary, for personal expenses, including trips and other purchases…
CT Duo Charged in $1.8M Medicaid Fraud Scheme Claiming Autism Therapy: Feds
Two Connecticut men, already under state scrutiny, are facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a $1.8 million Medicaid fraud scheme that spanned years and exploited critical health services, authorities said.
Ramon Apellaniz, 39, of Middletown, and Suhail Aponte, 38, of Wethersfield, allegedly defrauded the Connecticut Medicaid program through Minds Cornerstone, a company claiming to provide therapy for children with autism, the US Attorney’s Office for Connecticut said.
Authorities allege Apellaniz, using aliases such as “Kristopher Rockefeller,” managed the scheme even wh…
New Canaan Counselor Ripped Off Medicaid For $80K, Officials Say
A Fairfield County counselor with a business in Stamford defrauded Medicaid by billing thousands in fraudulent claims for services he did not provide.
According to state judicial officials, Andrew R. Golden, age 56, of New Canaan, was sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended, and five years of conditional discharge.
The judge ordered Golden to pay $80,328.19 in restitution and to not act as a Medicaid provider or provide services to any Medicaid recipient. Golden has paid the restitution, said officials with the state Division of Criminal Justice,
The division sa…
$1.6M Scheme: CT Psychologist Admits Submitting Fraudulent Medicaid Claims
A 75-year-old psychologist from Connecticut has admitted to submitting false Medicaid claims as part of a more than $1.6 million scheme, federal officials announced.
Hartford County resident Michael Pines of Avon, a Glastonbury-based psychologist, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges on Wednesday, Jan. 31, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, Pines, who owned and operated Michael B. Pines, Ph.D., P.C., provided psychotherapy to young children, adolescents, and adults and had been individually enrolled…
$695K Scheme: Former CT Counselor Convicted Of Submitting False Medicaid Claims
A former New London County counselor has admitted to submitting thousands of dollars of fraudulent claims to Medicaid for therapy services he never provided, officials said.
Former East Lyme resident Jeffrey Slocum, age 55, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud and kickback charges on Wednesday, Aug. 16, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, between 2017 and 2022, Slocum, who now lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a licensed professional counselor with a New London office located at 300 State St. …
Newtown Psychologist Admits To $79K Medicaid Fraud
A Newtown psychologist and advanced registered nurse pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid by billing the government health insurance program for thousands of dollars.
Jeannie Pasacreta, age 66, of Newtown, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 29, to one count of health insurance fraud. In addition, she was ordered to pay $79,418.77 in restitution.
An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney determined that over a two-year period beginning in 2016, Pasacreta, through her firm Mental Health Services, billed Medicaid for hundreds of claims for se…
Woman From Fairfield County Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case
A 32-year-old former Farifield County resident pleaded guilty to a health care fraud offense that she committed while waiting to be sentenced for a separate health care fraud charge.
Nicole Steiner, a former Stratford resident, pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday, July 29, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Steiner, who is now a resident of Edison, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on April 28, in relation to the operation of Helping Hands Academy, LLC in Bridgeport, which offered app…
New Haven Guidance Counselor Accused Of Rampant Fraud
An Avon counselor who worked in the New Haven Public School District allegedly billed Medicaid hundreds of times for services he never provided - and at least some of those charges were made while he was on a cruise to the Bahamas.
Cortney Dunlap, 36, of Avon, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and charged with health care fraud and making false statements relating to health care matters, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut.
Dunlap, a licensed professional counselor, allegedly used the identities of his clients, students, and employee to file false claims for psychotherapy…
Dental Office Whistleblower Gets $45,000 In Settlement Over Alleged Fraud
A whistleblower is getting $45,000 for tipping the government off to her employer’s alleged misdeeds.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, Abbas Mohammadi, the owner of Columbia Dental, P.C., Maxillofacial Imaging in Manchester, and Columbia Oral, agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that the companies violated the federal and state False Claims Act, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut said. Mohammadi has about 15 dental offices across Connecticut.
Mohammadi was accused of billing Medicaid for services that were either not provided, medically unnecessary, or performed by someone who was n…
