This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
On December 21, 2019, Attorney-General Maura Healey's office announced the arrest of a US-based Kenyan couple, John and Joanne Wachira, in connection with a Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted homeless individuals.
The couple, who operate Petra Health Care, a home healthcare company in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, were arraigned before Middlesex Superior Court and charged with Medicaid false claims, larceny over $1,200, and Medicaid kickbacks.
According to the Attorney-General's office, the Wachiras recruited at least 10 people to live in their house for free, but required them to be MassHealth members between July 2015 and December 2017.
The individuals were allegedly required to sign up for Petra's home health care services and submit false timesheets, claiming they received services such as bathing and medication reminders.
The couple and Petra then billed MassHealth for these services, despite not providing them. As a result, John and Joanne obtained $543,542.19 from MassHealth through the fraudulent scheme.
This is not the first time the Wachiras have been investigated by the Attorney General's Office. In a previous case, they were ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution and penalties for failing to pay their staff for overtime and travel.
