Home health care companies owner convicted of Medicaid fraud

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A federal jury convicted Sally Njume-Tatsing, 47, formerly of Pickerington, of Medicaid fraud. Njume-Tatsing was found guilty on all 13 counts as charged.

The verdict was announced following a trial that began on Sept. 9 before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

According to court documents and trial testimony, in 2017, Njume-Tatsing owned and operated three home healthcare businesses named Labelle Home Health. The agencies were located in Reynoldsburg, Mt. Vernon and Parma.

Njume-Tatsing resided in California during the majority of the time she owned the businesses, and despite not being involved in Labelle's daily operations, she did all of the Medicaid billing for nursing services.

While billing Medicaid for health aide services to individuals in their homes, the defendant inflated the hours of services provided, billed for registered nurses when licensed practical nurses completed the care, and billed for care for patients who were either deceased or ineligible to receive Medicaid.

Njume-Tatsing was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 and charged with one count of health care fraud and 12 counts of making false health care statements.

Health care fraud is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and making false health care statements carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the verdict returned on Sept. 16. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth A. Affeldt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Metzler of the Ohio Attorney General's Office are representing the United States in this case.

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