Las Vegas woman sentenced to prison for $1 million Medicaid fraud – FINCHANNEL

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman, Henrietta Binford, 54, was sentenced Monday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,250,223.39 in restitution for defrauding the state of Nevada’s Medicaid health care program by falsely billing for services not provided. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the sentencing hearing. Binford had previously pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of health care fraud.

According to court documents and admissions Binford made in court, from January 2017 to August 2017, she devised and executed a scheme to defraud the State of Nevada Medicaid (“Nevada Medicaid”). In connection with Binford’s application to register her company Shepherd’s Heart Services as a medical provider, she has not disclosed her criminal history, including previous felony and misdemeanor convictions. As a result of her false statements on the application, Shepherd’s Heart Services was enrolled in Nevada Medicaid. As part of her scheme, Binford submitted false bills to Nevada Medicaid for services, including counseling services and training, that were not provided. In total, Nevada Medicaid paid Shepherd’s Heart Services more than $1,000,000 for services not provided to patients.

“Through her misrepresentations and fraudulent acts, the defendant debited Nevada Medicaid in excess of $1,000,000,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the dedicated investigative and prosecutorial work of our partners and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the defendant was brought to justice and will be held accountable for her crimes, along with others who seek to exploit health care programs for their own financial gain.”

“Nevada Medicaid is a critical health insurance program for eligible members of our community, providing access to medical care that would otherwise be out of reach,” said Carissa Messick, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Phoenix Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to investigating anyone who attempts to defraud this program and those who rely on it.”

“My office will always defend itself against attempts to defraud Nevada Medicaid. Attempts to game the system or defraud Nevada Medicaid for services are particularly despicable because this program gives members of our community access to health care that would otherwise be inaccessible,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Washburne and Steven W. Myhre prosecuted the case.