Six people were sentenced on Mar. 17 in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg for their roles in a scheme that stole approximately $10 million from the Virginia Medicaid system over six years by submitting false claims for services never provided.
The case centers on 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Services, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency operating throughout Virginia. The three owners—Carolyn Bryant-Taylor of Clinton, Maryland; Kafomdi Josephine Okocha of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; and Samuel Okocha of Upper Marlboro, Maryland—received sentences of 120 months, 96 months, and 72 months respectively. Three other defendants, Eno Utuk and Elizabeth Ilome of Fredericksburg, Maryland, and Shekita Gore of Clinton, Maryland, were each sentenced to probation.
The court ordered all defendants to pay $10 million in restitution to Virginia Medicaid. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said, “This United States Attorney’s Office will hold accountable those who commit healthcare fraud and steal from hardworking Americans. I commend the FBI and the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their diligent work in bringing these individuals to justice and protecting hardworking Virginians.”
Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, said: “These sentences make clear that fraud against federally funded programs is theft from the American people. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure those who steal taxpayer funds are held accountable.”
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, and Samuel Okocha owned and operated the agency while Gore served as director of nursing. Utuk and Ilome worked as nurses or personal care providers. The group conspired to submit false claims by falsifying records and documentation for reimbursement from Medicaid between 2017 and 2023.
Part of the scheme involved paying parents or guardians of patients for blank signed nursing notes that were later filled out to support fraudulent billing. The actual loss acknowledged by the conspirators was $10 million.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit led the investigation with help from the Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry prosecuted the case.
