News from Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2016
New York City Press Office / 212-416-8060
Albany Press Office / 518-776-2427
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A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST 3 INDIVIDUALS FOR ALLEGEDLY FILING FALSE TIMESHEETS FOR SERVICES NOT PROVIDED TO MEDICAID RECIPIENT IN MEDICAID FRAUD SCHEME
Two Aides and Person In Charge of Medicaid Recipient’s Care Are Charged In Scheme That Allegedly Billed Medicaid $6K For Services That Were Never Provided To Medicaid Recipient
Schneiderman: I Will Prosecute Those Who Exploit The Vulnerable And The Medicaid Program For Personal Financial Gain
ROCHESTER - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrests and arraignments of three individuals who allegedly participated in a scheme to submit false timesheets for care not provided to a Medicaid recipient. An investigation, conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), revealed that Sarah Merlau allegedly hired her daughter, Rachael Merlau, and a family friend, Toya Torrance, to provide services to Sarah Merlau's other daughter, who is a Medicaid recipient who receives twenty six hours of services per week. Sarah Merlau allegedly signed off on false timesheets submitted by Rachael Merlau and Toya Torrance, for care that was not provided, which cost the Medicaid program over six thousand dollars.
“Defrauding the Medicaid system at the expense of the Medicaid Program and of one’s own family member, who depends on the Medicaid program, is truly reprehensible,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will always prosecute those who exploit the vulnerable and the Medicaid program for greed and personal financial gain.”
The complaints, filed in Rochester City Court, charge Sarah Merlau and Rachael Merlau with the E felony of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. Rachael Merlau was also charged with the D felony of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and another E felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. Toya Torrance was charged with two E felonies of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. Rachael Merlau faces up to seven years in prison and Sarah Merlau and Toya Torrance face up to four years in prison.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent.
The case was investigated by Investigator Debra Clementi and Principal Auditor/Investigator Grace Quinn, with assistance from MFCU Rochester Regional Chief Investigator William Falk and Rochester Regional Chief Auditor Thomas Clarke.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Margaret A. Jones in the MFCU Rochester Office. Catherine Wagner is the Regional Director and the Upstate Chief of Criminal Investigations for MFCU. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul Mahoney. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.