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Ester N. Mbaya, a 43-year-old woman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to charges of health care and bank fraud on Tuesday (October 15). As the former president of Cool Waters, LLC, a home health care agency, Mbaya submitted fraudulent Medicaid claims for services that were never provided, totaling over $1 million. The fraudulent claims were submitted between January 2018 and June 2020, according to U.S. Attorney General Gerard M. Karam.
In addition to the Medicaid fraud, Mbaya also submitted falsified records to four financial institutions to secure loans and lines of credit. She reportedly altered bank statements to make it appear she had more funds than she actually did. The total amount stolen from the banks exceeded $500,000, according to court documents filed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Local21News reported that Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry praised the work of law enforcement in uncovering the scheme, stating, “Our office is proud to work with partners who share the mission of making sure Medicaid dollars pay for care and services that enhance quality of life, rather than line the pockets of bad actors.”
ABC27 reported that Mbaya faces up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.25 million. She will also be subject to eight years of supervised release after serving her prison term.