Officials stated that a former Certified Nursing Assistant scheduler at an Illinois nursing facility admitted to defrauding the facility by creating fake employees.
Alisha Richardson pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting to creating at least five fake employees who never worked at the facility. She submitted false time sheets and other documents to get the facility to pay these fake employees, and then she stole the money from their paychecks.
The facility lost approximately $103,094 due to the fraud.
“The defendant in this case stole money that should have been used to provide nursing and rehabilitative care to older Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes that affect programs that benefit vulnerable Americans.”
Richardson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso in Chicago, Illinois.
A sentencing date will be set by the court. She faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General investigated the matter.