Former Community Support Worker Pleads Guilty to Defrauding District of Columbia Medicaid Program

           WASHINGTON – Jariatu Jalloh, 39, of Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of first-degree fraud and two counts of first-degree theft related to fraudulent billing submitted to the District’s Medicaid program. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

            According to the government’s evidence, Jalloh was employed as a community support worker (CSW) by a District Mental Health Rehabilitation Service (MHRS). MHRS provides for diagnostic and assessment services, counseling, medication, intensive day treatment, and crisis or emergency services. A CSW provides community support services by helping consumers learn and improve basic life skills, such as managing their medication, increasing social skills, and learning how to apply for housing or a job. CSWs are responsible for helping eligible patients improve life skills, such as medication management and social skills.

           Jalloh admitted that between August 2021 and continuing through July 2023, while employed by the District MHRS provider, she engaged in a scheme to defraud the District’s Medicaid program by submitting encounter notes for community support services she did not provide and overbilling for services she allegedly provided to District Medicaid beneficiaries.

           Evidence shows that several of the Medicaid recipients who were assigned to Jalloh reported that they never received services from Jalloh, while others said their contact lasted only a few minutes. Despite this, Jalloh repeatedly submitted documentation claiming she rendered an hour or more of services – even in cases where she had no interaction with the Medicaid recipients. Through this scheme, Jalloh caused the District government and its Medicaid program to pay over $234,500 for fraudulent CSW claims.

           The Honorable Carmen McLean accepted the plea, and scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2026.

           This case was investigated by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Emmanuela Charles, on detail from the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.

25CF2007145