DES MOINES, IA – In a shocking case of corruption in the healthcare system, Angela Shae Ellison, age 47, of Centerville, Iowa, the former owner and CEO of Cornerstone Counseling Center, was sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a massive health care fraud and money laundering scheme.
Ellison, a former nurse, was found guilty of directing employees of Cornerstone Counseling Center to bill Medicaid, Wellmark, Aetna, and United Health over 6,000 times using the names and national provider identification number of various doctors who did not perform the services for which the bills were submitted.
According to the charges, many of the fraudulent bills involved the name and identification number of a doctor who never performed any work for the Center. The scheme resulted in over $1 million in bogus bills being submitted, with the various insurance entities paying out more than $700,000 in claims.
On September 15, 2014, Ellison was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to serve one year and one day in prison. She was also ordered to pay $724,359.26 in restitution and $200 to the Crime Victim Fund.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Ellison’s actions are a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the healthcare system. The massive health care fraud scheme orchestrated by Ellison resulted in significant financial losses for taxpayers and insurance companies alike.
Related Federal Cases
- Randy Beltramea, Fraud, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion, Iowa 2013 · Iowa
- Jalel Aossey, William Aossey, Conspiracy to Make False Statements, Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, Iowa 2014 · Iowa
- Joe White, Health Care Fraud Scheme, Texas 2014 · Iowa
- Michael Recker, Grain Elevator Ticket Fabrication and Bankruptcy Fraud, Iowa 2012 · Iowa
- Jeremy J. Fishnick, Wire Fraud, Iowa 2023 · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Health Care Fraud
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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