TUCSON, Ariz. – A couple who ran a home health care business in Tucson are facing the harsh reality of prison after being convicted of a massive Medicare fraud scheme.
Stephen Allen Lamont, 61, and his wife, Elvia Lorena Lamont, 51, were sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson on May 15, 2019. Stephen Lamont was handed a 30-month sentence, while Elvia Lamont received a 13-month term.
The Lamonts owned and operated Ascension In Home Medical Care NP’s Group, Inc., from 2012 to 2015. During that time, Stephen Lamont pleaded guilty to Health Care Fraud, admitting to submitting false claims to Medicare for services performed by nurses, medical assistants, and a phlebotomist, falsely billing them as if they were provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Stephen Lamont also admitted to billing at the highest complexity level to inflate bills. On some instances, he forged the signature of a medical doctor or other Medicare-approved provider before submitting claims for reimbursement.
Elvia Lamont, who pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony, confessed to sharing in the proceeds from the scheme and concealing it from authorities.
In addition to their prison terms, both defendants were ordered by the Court to pay $1,054,839 in restitution to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The investigation was led by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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