Vegas mental health therapist convicted, sentenced for Medicaid fraud

May 14, 2014

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today in a Medicaid fraud case involving the intentional failure to maintain adequate records to support Medicaid claims.

Romeeka Naytesa Richardson, 33, was convicted of one gross misdemeanor offense of intentional failure to maintain adequate records, was sentenced to 150 days, suspended, performance of 80 hours of community service and payment of $25,000 in restitution, penalties, and costs by District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt.

“Richardson committed fraud by not keeping truthful case records and took from the Medicaid system,” Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said. “Cases like these in which the owner of a behavioral health company misuse their power, keep services from going to people who truly need them. This conviction will help deter future fraud and ensure continued support of those in need of services.”

The investigation began after the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received information that Richardson was submitting claims to Medicaid for reimbursement claiming that her company, All About You Behavioral Health Services, was providing behavioral health services that were not actually provided.

(Psychcrime note: Richardson is licensed in the state of Nevada as a behavioral analyst.)

The investigation revealed that Richardson submitted claims and prepared documentation for services allegedly provided to Medicaid recipients that were inaccurate. Richardson paid an employee to fill out progress notes as if that employee had provided services, when in fact Richardson knew that was not the case. The records maintained by Richardson did not note the actual provider of services, dates of service, or types of service provided to the Medicaid recipients.

The fraud occurred from January 2012 through May 2012.

Source: "Las Vegas woman convicted of Medicaid fraud, News 3 (Las Vegas, NV), May 13, 2014.