May 23, 2013
A North Carolina woman admits defrauding Medicaid of millions of dollars for sham mental health services.
Victoria Finney Brewton of Shelby pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to seven counts of health care fraud and health care fraud conspiracy, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of filing a false tax return.
The 37-year-old woman admitted in court recruiting juvenile Medicaid recipients to attend afterschool and summer programs she operated. Brewton and coconspirators then used the Medicaid recipient numbers of the kids to fraudulently bill $8 million in mental and behavioral health services that were never provided.
Prosecutors say Brewton filed false tax returns to try and mask her fraudulent income. Her coconspirator, Linda Smoot Radeker, pleaded guilty in September. Both face lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines.
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