August 20, 2019
Las Vegas, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that Betty A. Williams, 75, of Las Vegas, was sentenced in a Medicaid fraud case involving the failure to maintain proper documentation for services provided to Medicaid recipients. The fraud occurred between January 2013 and December 2017.
District Court Judge Valerie Adair sentenced Williams to 364 days in prison, suspended, and placed her on probation for three years. As part of the sentence, Williams was also ordered to pay $58,630.00 in restitution and perform 40 hours of community service. Individuals or businesses convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation.
“My office will hold health care professionals accountable when they defraud Nevada’s Medicaid program,” said AG Ford. “My team works hard each and every day to make sure public assistance programs are accessible to all Nevadans, and not being abused.”
The investigation of this case began after the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) received information that Nevada Optical Clinic (NOC) had allegedly submitted claims to Medicaid for ocular services supposedly provided by providers employed by NOC. As the agent and office manager for NOC, Williams was responsible for submitting those claims. The investigation revealed that Williams submitted claims for ocular services that were never in fact provided, and documentation supporting these services were not maintained by NOC.
The MFCU investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing health care services or goods to Medicaid patients. The MFCU also investigates and prosecutes instances of elder abuse or neglect. Anyone wishing to report suspicions regarding any of these concerns may contact the MFCU at 702-486-3420 or 775-684-1100.
The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Steve Sidhu.
To view the criminal information for Betty A. Williams, click here.
WILLIAMS, BETTY A.
(Photograph courtesy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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