A lot of thought goes into designing a dream home. A couple of fraudsters put a lot of thought into the details of building their dream home and enjoyed living in it until authorities discovered they had used government funds to pay for their not-so-humble abode. (Their detailed fraudulent blueprint was drawn by using undeserved Medicaid funds through their home health care agency’s patients.)
The husband and wife’s home health care agency, which was located in Columbus, Ohio, was used to submit fraudulent claims to the government health care benefits program. For approximately three-and-a-half years, they submitted claims for falsified medical conditions; fabricated home health aides’ prior work experience to make it appear they were qualified to provide home health care services; ordered employees to submit false bills where Medicaid was double billed; and, submitted blank time sheets with incorrect dates and hours for service.
The couple pleaded guilty in federal court to Medicaid fraud. The 51-year-old husband also pleaded guilty to money laundering and using the money they stole to build a $932,000 dream home. He faces up to four years in prison. His 49-year-old wife could be sentenced to three years of probation. Both have agreed to restitution and their plea agreement requires them to forfeit their home plus other money totaling more than $1 million.
Any builder knows that the foundation of a home is the most important part of any building. Unfortunately, this fraudulent couple built their home on fraud. (It looks like they will have to go back to the drawing board because their faulty foundation was built on a fraudulent scheme that could not stand up against the government.)
Source: Today’s ”Fraud of the Day” is based on an article entitled, ”Home Health Fraud Paid for Couple’s $900,000 Dream House,” published by Home Health Care News on December 5, 2016.
The owners of a home health care agency in Columbus, Ohio, admitted last week to defrauding Medicaid and building a $932,000 house with the funds, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Muna Alnoubani, 49, and her 51-year-old husband, Riyad Altallaa, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 in Columbus federal court to conspiring to defraud Medicaid. Altallaa also pleaded guilty to money laundering and using the money to pay for the couples’ home.
