LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A local woman who worked as a laboratory technician at an unnamed Las Vegas pediatric cardiology practice has been indicted by the federal grand jury on charges that she unlawfully obtained the personal identifying information of a patient and used it to apply for credit cards without the patient’s knowledge, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada.
Sherice Joan Williams, 41, of North Las Vegas, Nev., is charged with one count of illegal use and disclosure of patient health information and one count of aggravated identity theft. At an arraignment on Oct. 27, Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges and was temporarily detained pending a hearing at 3:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy A. Leen.
“Persons who work in the health care industry have special access to personal identifying and medical information, and have a responsibility and duty to protect and not use that information for fraudulent purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “We will use the available federal health care fraud and identity theft laws to prosecute persons who knowingly and willingly violate them.”
According to the allegations in the indictment, between about Dec. 1, 2014, and Jan. 27, 2015, Williams, while working as a laboratory technician at the health care provider, knowingly and without authorization, accessed the health and personal identifying information of a patient and applied for personal credit cards with the information.
If convicted of the charges, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison on the health information charge and a minimum of two years consecutive on the aggravated identity theft charge, plus maximum fines of $250,000 on each count.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and Henderson Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crane M. Pomerantz.
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nevada
Note that this does not appear to Ms. Williams’ first run-in with law enforcement. In November 2013, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office issued a press release:
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced that Sherice Joann Williams, 39, of Las Vegas, was sentenced today in a Medicaid fraud case involving the submitting of false Medicaid claims.
“Williams was turning in documentation that services had been provided to a Medicaid recipient,” said Masto. “An investigation showed that no services had been provided. Williams will now spend at least the next year in prison.”
Williams was sentenced for one felony offense of submitting false claims Medicaid fraud by District Court Judge Lee Gates. Walsh sentenced Williams to 12-48 months in prison and payment of $9,783 in restitution, penalties, and costs.
The case began after information was provided to the Nevada Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) from Nevada Medicaid’s Surveillance and Utilization Review Unit. The information provided alleged that Williams was not providing services to a Medicaid recipient. Even though services were not being provided to this Medicaid recipient, Williams was turning in false documentation alleging that those services had been provided. The investigation found that there were progress notes and subsequent Medicaid claims which were submitted for time periods where the Medicaid recipient was not receiving the behavioral health services.
The fraud occurred between February 2012 and May 2012. Persons convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the MFCU, which 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 case was prosecuted by Andrew Schulke, Senior Deputy Attorney General.
Read the criminal information by clicking here.
Under the circumstances, it may be reasonable to ask how she obtained a job in a pediatric cardiology practice in December 2014 following a conviction and sentencing in November 2013.