Nikkita Chesney, Medicaid Fraud, Connecticut 2019

Nikkita Chesney, 46, Sentenced for Medicaid Fraud Scheme in Bridgeport, CT

A Bridgeport woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme that bilked the government out of nearly $1.4 million. Nikkita Chesney, 46, was sentenced to 7 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for her crimes.

According to court documents, Chesney was employed by a healthcare provider in Bridgeport when she was approached by Toshirea Jackson to steal the personal identification information of Medicaid clients. Chesney and her co-conspirators then used the stolen ID to bill Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were never provided.

Chesney has admitted to stealing the identity information of over 150 Medicaid clients and successfully billing Medicaid for approximately half of those clients. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,369,654.57.

Chesney pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on October 23, 2018. She is required to report to prison on September 20, 2019.

Chesney is not the only one to face charges in this scheme. Toshirea Jackson, an employee of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,496,618. Another individual, Juliet Jacob, awaits sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the Connecticut Department of Social Services for their role in identifying the fraudulent scheme and supporting the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Nikkita Chesney, Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 30, 2019 - 7 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and $1,369,654.57 restitution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/bridgeport-woman-sentenced-prison-identity-theft-health-care-fraud-offenses