BEAUMONT, Texas – A brazen scheme to bilk millions from Medicare and Medicaid has landed a 31-year-old Woodville woman in hot water. Kari Mannino, the office manager for Beaumont Medical Clinic, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.
According to court records, from January 2008 to December 2011, Mannino conspired with co-defendant, Dr. John Q.A. Webb, Jr., to claim Webb had treated patients when he had not. Mannino then submitted, or had someone else submit, false claims to Medicaid and Medicare indicating a licensed physician and provided the health care services.
The false claims submitted to Medicare exceeded $12,000. The total fraudulent activity resulted in a loss to both Medicare and Medicaid of over $30,000. Mannino and Webb were indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 5, 2013.
Mannino faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
The case is being investigated by the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Levacy Cockrell is prosecuting the case.
Kari Mannino’s scheme is a stark reminder of the perils of health care fraud. The consequences can be severe, with prison time, fines, and reputational damage on the line.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what other individuals and organizations will be implicated in this far-reaching scheme. One thing is certain: the people of Texas deserve better than to have their tax dollars siphoned off by unscrupulous individuals like Mannino.
The case serves as a warning to all involved in the health care industry: honesty and transparency are essential in maintaining the public’s trust.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
