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Press Release

East Saint Louis Woman Sentenced On Healthcare Fraud-Related Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today, that Alfreda E. Perkins, 54, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, pled guilty in federal court to charges that she engaged in a scheme to steal from a health care program. Sentencing has been set for March 22, 2016. Perkins will face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

During her plea hearing, Perkins admitted that she had submitted false and fraudulent bills in relation to her alleged performance of personal assistant services in the Home Services Program, a Medicaid Waiver Program designed to allow individuals to stay in their homes instead of entering a nursing home. Perkins admitted to falsely billing the program between November 1, 2013 and September 15, 2014, when she purportedly rendered personal assistant services to a customer when, in fact, she had not been with the customer.

This prosecution is part of the fourth wave of the "Operation Home Alone" initiative announced on June 5, 2014, by United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Illinois State Police - Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William E. Coonan.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.

Updated November 25, 2015

Topic
Financial Fraud