Woman Sentenced In Medicare Fraud Scheme

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A 51-year-old Plaquemine woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after admitting she led a $300,000 Medicare fraud scheme that also resulted in prison terms for her mother and daughter.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson ordered Linda Jackson, no relation, into immediate federal custody after she pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He also ordered her to pay restitution of $297,523 to Medicare, the nation's tax-funded insurer for the elderly and disabled.

She admitted billing Medicare for more than 80 power wheelchairs or power scooters that were never delivered to any patients.

Jackson also admitted that Medicare paid for more than 60 cranial cervical orthotics that were never delivered to any of its beneficiaries.