Federal criminal charges brought against Rome, Georgia couple for alleged Medicare and Medicaid fraud
A Rome, Georgia couple has been indicted in federal court for using approximately $30 million of Medicare and Medicaid funds for their own personal use. The couple managed two nursing homes, one in Rome and one in Brunswick, from 2004 to 2007 which cared for around 300 residents.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.
The indictment alleges that the couple, George D. Houser and Rhonda Washington Houser, billed Medicare and Medicaid for the needs of their 300 patients but then used the funds to buy real-estate and luxury cars for themselves. The indictment goes on to allege that the couple failed to provide adequate care for their patients. Specifically, prosecutors allege that they did not repair washing machines, dryers and water heaters. In addition to the fraud charges, George Houser has also been charged with failing to pay payroll taxes.
Our criminal defense attorneys have successfully handled numerous federal cases involving fraud allegations. Federal fraud cases are often complex and document intensive which require great attention to detail. In many of these cases, the most powerful defense is good faith. Good faith exists when a person truly believes that he or she was in compliance with the law. Good faith can be shown in a variety of ways including consulting with an attorney to determine if a practice is acceptable, conforming to industry standards, or taking prompt action to correct a problem.
