Fugitive
Godwin Chiedo Nzeocha
Fugitive Status | sentenced |
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Charges | Conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering |
Investigation Details
On May 22, 2013, captured Most Wanted Fugitive Godwin Chiedo Nzeocha was sentenced to 9 years and 1 month of incarceration and ordered to pay more than $26 million in restitution, joint and several, after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering.
Nzeocha entered a plea to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of money laundering on October 19, 2012,. As part of the plea, he has also agreed to forfeit $1,098,320 to the United States.
On June 27, 2012, the FBI extradited Nzeocha from Nigeria back into the United States. He was arrested upon his arrival into Houston, Texas.
Nzeocha was indicted on charges of health care fraud, conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering in March 2010. Investigators believe that Nzeocha and his co-conspirators received more than $27 million from Medicare after submitting false or fraudulent claims for health care services that were never provided.
According to the indictment, Nzeocha was in charge of the Houston-based clinic City Nursing, which purportedly provided physical therapy services. Nzeocha allegedly signed patient documents claiming that City Nursing provided physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries, even though the services were not provided. Nzeocha and his co-conspirators also allegedly paid cash to recruiters and marketers who brought Medicare patients to City Nursing and paid these patients for signing documents for physical therapy services not rendered.
From approximately January 2007 until April 2009, City Nursing billed Medicare approximately $42 million in false and fraudulent claims, and the clinic received approximately $27 million in reimbursements.
Co-conspirators Umawa Oke Imo, Christina Joy Clardy, and Joann White have either pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of charges related to the health care fraud scheme. They have been sentenced to a combined 42 years and 4 months of incarceration and ordered to pay more than $30 million in restitution, joint and several.
Authorities believe that Nzeocha fled to Nigeria in June 2009. He was arrested by Nigerian authorities in June 2011.
- Health Care Fraud