Henrico Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

RICHMOND, Va. – Kateresea L. Ford, 42, of Glen Allen, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of Health Care Fraud.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Mark R. Herring, Virginia Attorney General, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Novak.

On March 9, 2015, the United States filed a one count criminal information charging Ford with Health Care Fraud in violation of 18 .U.S.C. § 1347. Ford faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 9, 2015 by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Payne. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Ford admitted that she owned and operated Delta House LLC, a company authorized to provide services to Medicaid recipients under the age of 21. Delta House provided a community-based residential program for pregnant or parenting teenage mothers to allow them to complete their education and transition to independent living as parents. Ford submitted fraudulent claims for payment representing that 739 units of community-based residential services had been provided to twenty-one Medicaid recipients, when, in fact, no such services had been provided. As a result of Ford's fraud, Medicaid was overbilled $81,216.08.

This case was investigated by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Attorney General Mark Herring's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Hart and Senior Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney David W. Tooker of the Virginia Attorney General's Office are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:15-cr-041.