12 East Texans Arrested in Medicare Fraud Scheme

TYLER — At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced the arrest of 12 people in connection with a major Medicare fraud scheme. KETK reports that a federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment September 16 charging the suspects in connection with Three Angels Home Health Inc. Officials say the scheme sought to defraud Medicare by recruiting East Texas Medicare recipients who were not eligible, or did not necessitate the need, for home health care services. Authorities took the defendants into custody Wednesday.

According to the indictment, an investigation revealed between August 2013 and November 2014, the suspects were involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare of about $2.5 million for home health services allegedly provided to about 250 East Texas Medicare patients. These patients were from Tyler, Jacksonville, Marshall, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and other areas. The indictment alleges the defendants worked as recruiters for Grace Munthali (pictured) and her company, Three Angels. The defendants were reportedly paid approximately $500 for each Medicare beneficiary they signed up to receive home health care services from Three Angels. To encourage the patients’ participation, the defendants allegedly offered and paid them from $100 to $200 each.

Those charged in the indictment include:

Lizzy Sirls, 33, of Cuney;
Katrina Watts, 38, of Lufkin;
Pandra Wade, 55, of Lufkin;
Victoria Sterns, 40, of Lufkin;
Tammy Washington, 51, of Nacogdoches;
Nichelle Fofana, 51, of Nacogdoches;
Yulanda Nash, 44, of Nacogdoches;
Ronald Russell, 51, of San Augustine;
Sheneki McCollister, 39, of Center;
Meoshe Goodwin, 42, of Tenaha;
Latosha Gray, 26, of Jacksonville;
Marcus Chukwu, Jr., 52, of Sugarland.

If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy to commit health care fraud charge and up to five years for each of the payment of illegal remuneration charges. Earlier this year, Munthali pleaded guilty to health care fraud charges; she was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison on Sep. 22.