A.G. Schneiderman Announces Arrest Of 3 Women Who Allegedly Conspired To Defraud Medicaid By Billing Over $13,600 For Services Not Provided To Family Member With Cerebral Palsy

Rose Richardson, Daughter Niaisa Bryant And Friend Mercedes Washington Allegedly Submitted False Timesheets For Services Not Provided 

Schneiderman: My Office Will Work To Root Out Medicaid Fraud And Prosecute Those Responsible

ROCHESTER – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and arraignment of a mother and daughter, along with another family friend, for allegedly conspiring to submit false timesheets for care not provided to a Medicaid recipient.

“Exploiting a loved one’s medical condition for personal, financial gain is reprehensible, and diverts critical Medicaid funds away from vulnerable New Yorkers who rely on them,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will keep working to root out Medicaid fraud and fully prosecute those who seek to defraud the system.”

The investigation, conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), revealed that Rose Richardson, age 54, her daughter Niaisa Bryant, age 32, and a family friend Mercedes Washington, age 26, while acting in concert, allegedly submitted false timesheets to Maxim Heathcare and received payment for services not provided to Richardson’s other daughter, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheelchair, causing a monetary loss to Medicaid of $13,661.50.

The complaint, filed in Rochester City Court, charges Richardson, Bryant and Washington, with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, and the E felonies of Health Care Fraud in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.  Richardson, Bryant and Washington face up to seven years in prison.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.    

The case was investigated by Investigator Jason Rice and Auditor/Investigator Stephen Sachman, with assistance from MFCU Deputy Chief Investigator William Falk and Rochester Regional Chief Auditor Thomas Clarke.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Margaret A. Jones in the MFCU Rochester Office.  Catherine Wagner is the Regional Director and the Upstate Chief of Criminal Investigations for MFCU.  The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul Mahoney. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.