WASHINGTON – Temitope Oluwa-Bakare Ogunbiyi, 49, of Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for defrauding the District of Columbia’s Medicaid program out of more than $1 million. Yesterday, Rose Asang Gana, 40, of Greenbelt, Maryland, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for defrauding the program out of more than $400,000.

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea; Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), for the region that includes Washington, D.C.; Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia and Special Agent in Charge Mike McGill of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG).

            Ogunbiyi pled guilty to one count of health care fraud in August 2019. Today, the Honorable Thomas F. Hogan sentenced her to 15 months in prison. Following her prison term, she will be placed on three years of supervised release. In addition she was ordered to pay $1,071,247.12 in restitution and $575,462.03 in a forfeiture money judgment.

            Gana pled guilty to one count of health care fraud in October 2019. Yesterday, the Honorable Carl J. Nichols sentenced her to 13 months in prison. She also will be placed on three years of supervised release following her prison term. She was ordered to pay $441,234.64 in restitution and $257,503.31 in a forfeiture money judgment. 

            Ogunbiyi worked as a personal care aid for 18 home health agencies at various times between January 2014 and September 2018. Gana worked for nine health agencies at various times between October 2013 and December 2018. The home health agencies employed Ogunbiyi and Gana to assist D.C. Medicaid beneficiaries in performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating. Ogunbiyi and Gana were supposed to document the care they provided to the Medicaid beneficiaries on timesheets and then submit those timesheets to the home health agencies, which would in turn bill Medicaid for the services rendered.

            Between January 2014 and September 2018, Ogunbiyi caused the D.C. Medicaid Program to issue payments totaling $1,071,247.12 for services that she did not render. Between October 2013 and December 2018, Gana caused the D.C. Medicaid Program to issue payments totaling $441,234 for services that she did not render.

            As part of their individual fraud schemes, both women paid kickbacks to beneficiaries and submitted false timesheets to different home health agencies claiming to have provided personal care aide services that they did not provide. Ogunbiyi also caused Medicaid to be billed for services she claimed to provide in the District of Columbia when she was traveling outside the United States. As a result of their schemes, Ogunbiyi earned more than $500,000 in wages and Gana earned more than $250,000 in wages.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Shea, Special Agent in Charge Dunham, Special Agent in Charge Dixon of U.S. HHS-OIG, District of Columbia Inspector General Lucas and Special Agent in Charge McGill commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Mariela Andrade and former Paralegal Specialist Brittany Phillips. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise A. Simmonds, who prosecuted the cases.           

           Rose Asang Gana, also known as Rose Nebangu, 40, of Greenbelt, Maryland, pled guilty on Wednesday, to a federal charge of health care fraud stemming from a scheme in which she caused the District of Columbia’s Medicaid program to be defrauded out of more than $400,000.

           The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal Division, Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Daniel W. Lucas, District of Columbia Inspector General.

           Gana pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  The charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and potential financial penalties.  Under federal sentencing guidelines, Gana faces a likely range of 18 to 24 months in prison and a fine of up to $40,000.  The plea agreement calls for Gana to pay $441,234.64 in restitution and at least $257,503.31 in a forfeiture money judgment. The Honorable Carl J. Nichols scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2020.

           According to the statement of offense submitted to the Court, Gana worked as a personal care aide for nine home health agencies at various times between October 1, 2013 and December 28, 2018.  The home health agencies employed Gana to assist D.C. Medicaid beneficiaries in performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating.  Gana was supposed to document the care she provided to the Medicaid beneficiaries on timesheets and then submit the timesheets to the home health agencies, which would in turn bill Medicaid for the services that she rendered.

           Between October 1, 2013, and December 28, 2018, Gana caused D.C. Medicaid to issue payments totaling $441,234.64 for services that she did not perform or that were tainted by the payment of illegal cash kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for signing false timesheets.  Gana earned approximately $257,503 in wages from the health care fraud scheme.

           In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Dunham, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General.  They also expressed appreciation for the work of former Paralegal Specialist Brittany Phillips.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi J. Kleinman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise A. Simmonds, who prosecuted the case.