An office manager at a Woodbridge home healthcare business has been convicted of bilking Medicaid out of nearly $1 million through fraudulent bills.
A jury in federal court in Alexandria convicted 51-year-old Yannick Pierre of 13 counts of health care fraud, according to court records.
Prosecutors said that Pierre, as the office manager at First Call Home Health, filed at least $979,000 in false Medicaid claims between August 2008 and May 2010. First Call provided personal care, respite care and in-home nursing services.
Court records say the false claims overstated the hours that First Call staff cared for patients, and that the business fraudulently sought reimbursement for care provided by a registered nurse, rather than a licensed practical nurse, in order to get more money.
First Call owner Godwin Ikwuakam was also charged when a complaint was filed against Pierre in April. But Ikwuamkam, who was also investigated by Prince William County police, has not been apprehended, and the case against him is still pending, court records show.
Pierre is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 2.
