Buffalo, N.Y. – A licensed clinical social worker has been sentenced for a daring fraud scheme that bilked Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York out of nearly $140,000.
Nina Jafari, 64, from Amherst, NY, was handed down a 30-month prison sentence by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford after being convicted of health care fraud. The defendant, according to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael DiGiacomo and Aaron J. Mango, submitted fraudulent reimbursement claim forms for services never rendered to the insurance provider.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced the sentence, noting that evidence against Jafari included tape recorded conversations with a patient where she instructed them not to disclose dates of service to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The amount Jafari defrauded from the insurance carrier is estimated at approximately $138,000. The sentencing follows an intensive investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Health Care Fraud Task Force.
Jafari faces a grim future behind bars as she begins her sentence for what authorities have called a despicable act of deceit against one of the nation’s largest health insurance providers.
Contact: Barbara Burns
Phone: (716) 843-5817
Fax: (716) 551-3051
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News