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Teresa Johnson, Health Care Fraud, Florida 2019
A medical billing company owner has been sentenced to five years’ probation for her role in a large health care fraud scheme. According to court documents, Teresa Johnson, 53, of Lecanto, conspired with a local doctor to submit false and fraudulent claims for three clinics.
Johnson’s company, Tri-County Billing, submitted mostly false and fraudulent claims to government healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA. The claims were for medical services performed by unauthorized healthcare providers, who were not allowed to bill for their services.
Johnson had previously worked for the doctor in several capacities before he financially assisted her in opening Tri-County Billing. The doctor, who has since passed away, filed bankruptcy on behalf of his medical practice in April 2019.
As part of the scheme, Johnson billed claims for services performed by unauthorized healthcare providers as if they were rendered by the doctor. Johnson also knew that the claims were false and fraudulent, and she benefited financially from the scheme.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Johnson pleaded guilty on October 10, 2019, and was sentenced to five years’ probation, with four months of home detention. She must also pay restitution to the defrauded federal healthcare programs and enter a money judgment of more than $5,700, representing a portion of her health care fraud proceeds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen prosecuted the case. The sentence reflects a significant blow to Johnson’s criminal enterprise, and it serves as a reminder that healthcare fraud will not be tolerated.
Healthcare fraud schemes such as this one have far-reaching consequences, including draining taxpayer dollars and compromising the integrity of our healthcare system. The sentence in this case is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the investigators and prosecutors who brought it to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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