Suzanne Shumway Submitted Fraudulent Medicaid Billings For Over $2,200; Stole Over $1,000 From Developmentally Disabled Consumer
Schneiderman: My Office Will Vigorously Pursue Individuals Who Line Their Pockets At The Expense Of Those Who Rely On Them
GREENWICH– Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and arraignment of Suzanne Shumway, former Executive Director of Battenkill Community Services, Inc. (BCS), a not-for-profit agency servicing developmentally disabled individuals, for allegedly defrauding Medicaid for services rendered to BCS consumers and theft of funds of a developmentally disabled person under her care. If convicted, she could face 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.
“Stealing from a developmentally disabled person who relies on a caregiver to act in his or her best interests is the ultimate breach of trust,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will continue to vigorously pursue the unscrupulous individuals who line their pockets at the expense of those who depend on them.”
Suzanne Shumway was the Executive Director of BCS and was responsible for coordinating and providing care to developmentally disabled individuals, referred to as BCS consumers. In addition to her role as Executive Director, from March 2010 through April 2012, Shumway was also employed by Community, Work & Independence, Inc. (CWI) as a personal assistant through the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). The felony complaint alleges that Shumway submitted false timesheets to CWI claiming that she provided care to two BCS consumers for dates and times that Shumway authorized Medicaid billings for simultaneous care through BCS. Specifically, the investigation revealed that Shumway falsely claimed to CWI that she provided one-on-one care to consumers. However, Shumway personally provided group services to the same consumers through BCS on overlapping dates and times. As a result, Medicaid paid CWI a total of $2,207.79 for services claimed by Shumway.
Further, the felony complaint alleges that from on or about January 2009 through April 2012, Shumway maintained joint accounts with several BCS consumers and was responsible for the management of monthly funds of supplemental security income. Shumway sought permission from family members of consumers to manage their funds. During this time, Shumway used funds from the bank account of a consumer identified as “A.R.” for payment of personal expenses, including satisfaction of her school taxes and pet and farm supplies, totaling over one thousand dollars.
Shumway, 49, of Greenwich, was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, E Felony, and 10 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, E Felony, before Honorable William Blake, Greenwich Town Justice. Shumway was released on her own recognizance.
Attorney General Schneiderman thanks New York State Police Investigator Joseph Bearor and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) for their assistance with the investigation.
The charges against the defendant are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation was led by Senior Investigator Julie Clancy with the assistance of Supervising Investigator Dianne Tuffey, Deputy Chief Investigator Upstate William Falk, and Associate Special Auditor/Investigators Megan Mastrianni and Sarah Finning.
Special Assistant Attorney General Erin Lynch of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Albany Regional Office is prosecuting the case with MFCU Albany Office Regional Director Kathleen Boland. Catherine Wagner is MFCU's Upstate Chief of Criminal Investigations. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting Director Amy Held. The Criminal Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.