A Woman From Maryland Admits Guilt to Perpetrating Health Care Fraud

A Woman From Maryland Admits Guilt to Perpetrating Health Care Fraud

Government Continues with Clampdown on Persons Who Defraud Medicaid

Washington-On 1st October 2020, Janet Olatimbo Akindipe, age 62, from Laurel, Maryland, admitted guilt in federal court for swindling the D.C Medicaid program out of over a quarter million USD.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal Division, Robert E. Bornstein; Inspector General of the District of Columbia, Daniel W. Lucas; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin; and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General for the Region comprising of Washington D.C., Maureen R. Dixon made the announcement about this case.

Akindipe admitted guilt to health care fraud in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The count bears a statutory maximum sentence of ten years in prison and possible monetary punishment. Under the federal conviction regulations, Akindipe will face a possible advocated sentence of between eighteen and twenty-four months in federal prison and a fine of approximately 75,000 USD. The Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly accepted the plea and scheduled conviction for 22nd January 2021.

Akindipe was employed as a full-time worker for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as of March 2013. At numerous times between November 2014 and June 2020, she was additionally hired by 6 separate home health agencies to act as an individual care aide for the D.C. Medicaid recipients. The home health agencies hired Akindipe to help Medicaid recipients perform daily living tasks, including eating, dressing, bathing, and getting in and out of bed. Akindipe was expected to record the care she offered to the Medicaid recipients on timetables and then presented the timetables to the home health agencies, which would then charge Medicaid for the services she provided.

Between January 2015 and June 2020, Akindipe made the Medicaid program to send out reimbursement amounting to 269,808 USD for services that she did not provide. As part of her fraud plot, she presented falsified timetables to various home health agencies alleging that she rendered individual care aide services that she did not render. She alleged she rendered such services at times when she was really working her shift at the National Institute of Health. She alleged to operate over 20 hours on a particular day on over three hundred instances. She additionally alleged that she rendered individual care aide services in the District of Columbia on dates when she was not even in the country but traveling outside the United States. Akindipe admitted remitting kickbacks to Medicaid recipients to persuade them to sign timetables acknowledging that she rendered services that she never really provided.

The Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the FBI are dedicated to conduct investigations and prosecute persons who swindle the D.C. Medicaid program. As of October 2019, 5 previous personal care aides have been convicted in the U.S. District Court for swindling D.C. Medicaid. In June 2020, 4 extra persons, including Akindipe, were indicted in criminal complaints with falsified health care statements and health care fraud.

The government relies on the public for alerts and aid in assisting end health care fraud. If any person has information concerning persons perpetrating health care fraud, please contact the Department of Health and Human Services’-Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) HHS-TIPS [(800)447-8477].

The prosecution for this case was conducted by Assistant United States Attorney of the Fraud Section, Kondi Kleinman.

People who breach the False Claim Statute, the Controlled Substance Act, or commit or scheme to commit Health Care Fraud by defrauding federally funded health care systems such as Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE, break the law. These persons are highly penalized, punished, or fined if found guilty and liable for their criminal behavior. If accused of the crimes stated above, you should seek legal advice, help, or representation to pursue and protect your rights. Hire the Healthcare Fraud Group highly qualified and top-rated defense attorneys if you require the best legal representation or assistance since the best legal representation and guidance leads to positive outcomes for your case. We comprise criminal attorneys with many years of experience handling Fraud associated cases in the Federal Health Care program. We have wide-ranging knowledge of civil and federal cases. Our attorneys are highly recognized for their professionalism and excellent work in matters associated with Health Care Fraud Investigations. They have extensive previous knowledge of all aspects of Health Care Fraud defense, medical and legal matters.

We are always available, prepared, and ready to start and begin your defense quickly and immediately. We rank and rate higher than our competitors because we are continually and relentlessly updating our knowledge and practice in order to act swiftly in your matter without the need for constant legal consultations. When hired, we give a quick and safe evaluation of your issue and act rapidly to acquire the essential and crucial particulars about your case in the government’s investigations. We promise to assist you and your team in making the best and right decision. Our highly able and experienced lawyers will help and guide you in everything you want to know and train your team to effectively assist in your defense since there are numerous vital mistakes you must avoid when facing a federal health care fraud probe.  Our team is also extremely acquainted and comprehends the need to prove innocence after the indictment of any offense, such as the crimes mentioned above. Contact us now, or at your convenience at 888-402-4054 for any legal help, advice, or representation you may want.

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