US: Two Kenyan women arrested for defrauding State of Boston US$100 million

Two Kenyan women have been arrested by authorities in the United States on charges of having swindled the State of Bolton to the tune of US$Before the law million.

The two are, Winnie Waruru, 42, and Faith Newton, 52.

They are said to have been living large in America with one of them driving a Maserati, an Italian luxury brand known for its exclusive styling, and the other one a Range Rover.

As dollar millionaires, they kept their lives private and few Kenyans had heard about the two nurses whose fortunes seemed endless, the local Nation Newspaper reported.

In addition to their lavish lifestyles, they had five properties in the US and operated 40 bank accounts, the report added.

About the case:

The two are alleged to have paid kickbacks to obtain referrals and retain patients over a five-year period. US detectives watched their transactions that ran into millions of dollars for many months.

Last week, Waruru pleaded guilty before US Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr, who has scheduled sentencing for January 12, 2023, according to a release by US Attorney Rachael Rollins. Newton’s case will continue.

Detectives allege that between January 2013 and January 2017, the two used Arbor Homecare Services LLC as a conduit to siphon $100 million from MassHealth and Medicare – a programme that provides health coverage primarily for people with low incomes – by claiming refunds and filing false statements. They then closed down the company.

With a budget running into billions of dollars, MassHealth, which pays for personal care attendants, medical equipment, and specific prescription, has been a target of swindlers who first apply to become providers through registered companies. The healthcare company nurses are supposed to attend to vulnerable members and then bill the programme for reimbursement.

Both Waruru and Newton were accused of “conspiracy to commit health care fraud” and for billing for healthcare services that they never provided. They are also charged with making false statements to MassHealth.

source: Nation