This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
On December 19, 2019, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced the arrest of a Kenyan couple living in the United States for their alleged involvement in a Medicaid fraud scheme.
John Wachira, 52, and Joanne Wachira, 62, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, were charged with Medicaid false claims, larceny worth more than $1,200, and Medicaid kickbacks at Middlesex Superior Court.
The couple, who operate Petra Health Care, a home healthcare company, allegedly recruited at least 10 homeless people to live in their house between July 2015 and December 2017. In exchange for free housing, the individuals were required to be MassHealth members and sign up for Petra's home healthcare services.
However, the couple allegedly submitted false timesheets showing that the individuals received services such as bathing and medication reminders, when in fact they did not. As a result, John and Joanne obtained $543,542.19 from MassHealth through the fraudulent scheme.
The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges, and this is not the first time they have been investigated by the Attorney General's Office. Last year, they were ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution and penalties for allegedly neglecting to pay their staff for overtime and travel.
