Post date:
September 25 2015
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Arrest, Arraignment And Guilty Plea Of Chili Nurse For Allegedly Defrauding Medicaid Of Nearly $4k
LPN Tara Chimino Allegedly Stole $3,841.40 From Medicaid By Billing For Hours She Didn’t Work
Schneiderman: My Office Will Fight To Root Out Medicaid Fraud And Bring Dishonest Medical Professionals To Justice
CHILI – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest, arraignment and guilty plea of Tara Chimino, a licensed practical nurse who was employed to provide private nursing services to a special needs young adult. Chimino was charged with stealing $3,841.40 from the Medicaid program by billing for numerous hours that she did not work.
“For a medical professional to exploit the special needs of their patient for financial gain is truly reprehensible,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “My office will continue fighting to root out Medicaid fraud and bring dishonest medical professionals to justice.”
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 Chimino, 36 of Chili, allegedly repeatedly billed the Medicaid program for work she never performed. Hired to provide nursing services to a medically fragile person, it is charged that Chimino billed for numerous hours of care over a three month period that she did not provide to the individual, thereby accruing over three thousand dollars in false billings.
Chimino pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny. As part of the guilty plea, Chimino will receive three years probation and will pay restitution in the amount of $3,481.40.
Chimino was arraigned before Chili Town Court Judge Ronald Evangelista. The matter is adjourned to December 14th for further proceedings.
The case was investigated by Special Investigator Debra Clementi and Principal Auditor/ Investigator Thomas Clarke 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.