Owner Of Medicaid Agency Sentenced

A federal judge has sentenced a Marrero woman to five years of probation for health care fraud.

U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman handed down the sentence Tuesday against 40-year-old Terra Washington, who authorities said bilked Medicaid out of more than $2 million.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office said Washington was placed on home detention for 18 months during which time she will be electronically monitored. He says Feldman also ordered Washington to pay restitution to the state Department of Health and Hospitals in the amount of $1.25 million.

Washington was the owner and operator of A Small World, which had offices in Gretna and Boutte. She admitted falsifying records for personal care services, which providers gave to patients who are unable to care for themselves.