July 15, 2019
Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that John and Roberta Pangallo, of Reno, were sentenced in a Medicaid fraud case involving the maintenance of billing records. The fraud was committed between March 2016 and January 2017.
Second Judicial District Court Judge Barry Breslow sentenced both John and Roberta Pangallo to a term of 364 days in prison, suspended, for their intentional failure to maintain adequate records. As part of their sentence, the defendants will jointly pay $30,000 in restitution to Nevada Medicaid. Individuals or businesses convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation.
“One of the functions of my office is to protect the integrity of our Medicaid system,” said AG Ford. “By investigating and prosecuting those actively seeking to defraud our health care system, my office is working to ensure Nevadans have access to reliable and consistent services.”
The investigation of this case began after the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) received complaints from former employees that Pangallo’s House of Care Counseling Center, owned and operated by John and Roberta Pangallo, submitted improper claims to Medicaid for behavioral health services. The investigation revealed that the Pangallos submitted claims for services with false or missing documentation, and subsequently received payment for these claimed services.
On behalf of the Attorney General and the State, the MFCU investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing healthcare 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 criminal Information for the defendants is attached. To file a complaint with our office, click here.
This case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Amy K. Steelman.
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| John Pangallo |
Roberta Pangallo |
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