November 29, 2021
Las Vegas, NV – Nevada
Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that Randi Jewel Lewis, 30, of Las
Vegas, was sentenced in a Medicaid fraud case involving falsely billing for Medicaid
services allegedly provided to Medicaid recipients.
Lewis pleaded guilty to one count
of Medicaid Fraud and one count of Money Laundering. District Court Judge Jasmin
Lilly-Spells sentenced Lewis to between 19 to 48 months in prison, suspended,
and placed her on probation. Lewis was also ordered to pay more than $30,000 in
restitution, penalties and costs.
“My office is committed to
combatting Medicaid fraud to ensure the wellbeing of its recipients and to
safeguard taxpayer resources,” said AG Ford. “Prosecutions of these
types of crimes helps deter future crimes against the Medicaid system, and stop
predatory fraudsters from gaming the system to their advantage.”
The investigation began after the
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) received an allegation that Vegas Health LLC
(Vegas Health) submitted false information to Medicaid. The investigation
revealed that Lewis and her co-defendant, Shonna Nicole Marshall, formed a
ghost company with the sole objective of fraudulently billing Medicaid.
Lewis and Marshall used Medicaid
providers’ and recipients’ personal information without their knowledge or
consent. Lewis and Marshall then transferred the fraudulently obtained funds
into multiple bank accounts and to multiple associates in order to conceal the
source of the funds. Marshall, who pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid
Fraud and twenty-six counts of Money Laundering, is scheduled to be sentenced
in January for her role in the fraudulent scheme.
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. The Nevada MFCU receives 75% of
its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant
award. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of Nevada, MFCU. Persons
convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future
Medicaid and Medicare participation. Anyone wishing to report suspicions
regarding any of these concerns may contact the MFCU at 702-486-3420 or
775-684-1100.
This case was investigated by the
Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was prosecuted by Senior
Deputy Attorney General Behnaz Salimian Molina.
The amended indictment for Randi
Jewel Lewis is attached.
To
file a complaint with the Office of the Nevada Attorney General, click here.
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