Houston Area Business Owner Charged with Defrauding Medicare of $5.6 Million
HOUSTON – Three people have been taken into custody on charges contained in a 21-count indictment alleging a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of approximately $5.6 million for various diagnostic tests which were never performed or were not medically necessary, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Joy Aneke, 47, her alleged physician assistant, Teodoro Seminario aka Dr. Ted, 48, and the manager of the Jadac Clinic, Maureen Henshall aka Ms. Mo, 59, are all charged with the conspiracy. The indictment also charges the three with health care fraud for filing false claims with Medicare for never-performed or not medically-necessary procedures. Aneke is also charged with two counts of money laundering and three counts of aggravated identity theft as well as health care fraud relating to her operation of a second diagnostic clinic, Almeda Physicians Clinic, and a home health agency, Bona Care.
The indictment was returned under seal July 15, 2015, and unsealed as to each defendant as they were taken into custody. Seminario and Henshall were arrested this morning, while Aneke was taken into custody last night. All are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy at 2:00 p.m. today.
According to the allegations in the indictment, Aneke, of Richmond, operated Jadac Unique Health Services Inc. as a diagnostic clinic from July 2008 through April 2012 and allegedly billed Medicare for approximately $5.6 million for various diagnostic tests which were never performed or were not medically necessary. Henshall, of Highlands, ran the clinic and paid marketers cash for every Medicare patient they brought to the clinic for alleged testing, according to the indictment. Seminario, of Houston, allegedly worked at the Jadac clinic as an unlicensed Physician’s Assistant known as “Dr. Ted.”
The indictment alleges that Aneke also fraudulently operated Almeda Physicians Clinic and Bona Care. Aneke allegedly received approximately $921,000 in Medicare money from the Bona Care bank account at Bank of America. The indictment further alleges Aneke transferred $100,000 from the Bona Care account to the United Bank of Africa.
According to the charges, Aneke used the personal identification information of a medical doctor without the doctor’s knowledge or permission in her scheme to defraud Medicare through Bona Care Home Health Agency.
Upon conviction, each of the 16 health care fraud counts as well as the underlying conspiracy carries a possible maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Aneke faces another 10 years if convicted of either of the two money laundering charges. In addition, if convicted of aggravated identity theft, Aneke also faces another 24 months for each count of aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The criminal charges are the result of a joint investigation conducted by Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Al Balboni is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
