Mt. Vernon Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Health Care Fraud

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Nancy Tingle, age 53, of Mt. Vernon, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on December 16, 2019, and pled guilty to an Information that charged her with Health Care Fraud. 

According to court documents, between on or about 2012 and continuing until the fall of 2018, Nancy Tingle knowingly and willfully executed and attempted to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud a health care benefit program to obtain, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, property owned by and under the custody and control of a health care benefit program in connection with the delivery of and payment for health care benefits, items, and services.  Specifically, Tingle worked as the business office manager at Firesteel Healthcare Community in Mitchell, South Dakota.  At times relevant to this case, Tingle defrauded Firesteel Healthcare Community of funds and monies, and in doing so, Tingle manipulated Medicaid funds intended for Firesteel Healthcare Community.  Tingle knew that she was not authorized to receive the funds and monies of Firesteel Healthcare Community and that she used the fraudulently obtained funds on personal items and personal expenditures.  The loss amount attributable to Tingle’s fraudulent conduct exceeded $450,000.  She also failed to pay taxes on the taxable income that she obtained through fraud, resulting in over $100,000 of back taxes. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date of March 9, 2020, has been set.  The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.