New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to One Count of Conspiracy to Receive Illegal Kickbacks

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CARY PAYTON, age 61, of New Orleans, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to receive illegal kickbacks.

On March 12, 2015, PAYTON was indicted along with 19 other defendants in a 26-count indictment charging approximately $30,052,295 in Medicare fraud and the BP fraud.

PAYTON was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Abide Home Care Services, a home health company operated by owner Lisa Crinel. PAYTON and other LPNs, aides, recruiters and marketers were paid about $150 - $300 for each referral of a Medicare beneficiary to Abide. Abide then fraudulently billed Medicare for medically unnecessary home health services. PAYTON admitted to receiving a $300 payment for his referral of a Medicare beneficiary to Abide.

PAYTON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for April 20, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.   Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrice Harris Sullivan, Sharan Lieberman and Andre Lagarde are in charge of the prosecution.