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El Paso Woman Charged with Health Care Fraud
A 45-year-old woman from El Paso has been arrested and charged with health care fraud after an investigation revealed a massive scheme to defraud Medicare.
Zenia Chavez, owner and operator of Nursemind Home Health, Inc., a company that provides hospice care services, allegedly conspired with her nephew, Raul Alejandro Fuentes, 23, to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Chavez and Fuentes targeted individuals in boarding homes and senior living facilities, enrolling them in a Nursemind hospice program despite their lack of need for such care. The duo then created false medical records, forged signatures, and submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Chavez faces an additional charge of offering kickbacks for client referrals to Nursemind, further highlighting the depths of her alleged scheme.
Chavez and Fuentes are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, as well as 14 counts of health care fraud. Chavez also faces one count of conspiracy for illegal remunerations regarding a federal health care program and 11 counts of illegal remunerations regarding a federal health care program.
If convicted, Chavez and Fuentes could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each health care fraud count. Chavez also faces an additional five years in prison on the conspiracy for illegal remunerations charge and 10 years in prison on each of the illegal remuneration counts.
A federal district judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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