Milwaukee Woman Found Guilty of Medicaid Fraud and Theft

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Yvette Harris, 50, of Milwaukee has been convicted of one count of Medicaid fraud and one count of theft after a five-day jury trial before the Honorable Jean A. DiMotto in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 7. 

The convictions entered March 8, 2013, arise from Harris’s employment as a registered nurse providing in-home health care to Medicaid recipients.  Medicaid is a public health insurance program for the needy and disabled jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

According to the criminal complaint, Harris was interviewed by the mother of a young girl needing cares with a ventilator and for other complex medical needs.  Harris was not hired to provide the services.  Between June 2010 and April 2011, Harris billed the Wisconsin Medicaid program claiming to have provided cares to the child on 136 days for a total of $32,330.41. 

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and Harris is scheduled for sentencing on May 16.  The convictions carry a total maximum penalty of six years, nine months imprisonment, and $35,000 in fines.

A copy of the criminal complaint is available at the following link.  Criminal Complaint

The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.