Samuel Okere, Medicaid Fraud, Oklahoma 2018

Medicaid Fraud Rocks Oklahoma: Counselor Sentenced to Prison

A hard-hitting investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has led to the downfall of Samuel Okere, a 61-year-old licensed professional counselor and owner of New Life Counseling Services.

Okere, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in defrauding the Oklahoma Health Care Authority through false claims for behavioral health counseling.

According to court documents, Okere billed Medicaid for counseling sessions that he could not have possibly attended, including times when clients were at school or Okere was engaged in other activities. This egregious behavior led to a total of 224 counts of Medicaid fraud.

Okere pleaded guilty to health care fraud on April 3, 2018, and has since paid $141,545.16 in restitution to Medicaid. A portion of the restitution will go to SoonerCare and a portion to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot also ordered Okere to pay a fine of $10,000. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the fight against Medicaid fraud.

The sentencing marks the culmination of a long and meticulous investigation, led by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Maxfield Green and Assistant Oklahoma Attorney General Lory Dewey, who is also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Okere's crimes have left a trail of financial devastation, and his sentence serves as a measure of accountability for his actions. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and the need for continued vigilance in the fight against Medicaid fraud.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant/Respondent Name: Samuel Okere

Criminal Charges: Health care fraud and 224 counts of Medicaid fraud

City and State: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Exact Date of Sentencing: Not specified, but case began with indictment on November 15, 2017, and guilty plea on April 3, 2018

Sentence or Outcome: One year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and $141,545.16 in restitution to Medicaid

Dollar Amounts: $141,545.16 in restitution, $10,000 fine

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/behavioral-health-counselor-sentenced-prison-defrauding-medicaid