Nine Indicted in Alleged Medicaid Fraud Conspiracy
- January 12, 2024
An indictment has been unsealed charging nine in a vast health care fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and obstruction of justice scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia announced January 9.
Charged in the indictment are: Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha, Samuel Okocha, Shekita Gore, a.k.a. Shekita Steele, Berthe Feuzeu, a.k.a. Berthe Djuni, Anthony Kanu, Elizabeth Ilome, Eno Utuk, and Rhabiatu Kamara.
All defendants are charged with with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, Samuel Okocha, and Gore also are charged with one count of health care fraud. Bryant-Taylor is also charged with two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of money laundering. And Josephine Okocha is charged with three counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, Samuel Okocha, and Gore are owners and operators of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency providing private duty nursing, personal care, and respite care services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Feuzeu, Kanu, Utuk and Kamara were employed by 1st Adult as nurses and Ilome as a medication technician. The indictment alleged that defendants conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid for services that were not provided to patients, including falsifying records and documentation in support of the fraudulent claims submitted for reimbursement.
An indictment contains allegations only and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.