Nineteen people face federal charges for allegedly stealing more than $4 million from Pennsylvania's Medicaid program through fraudulent home health care billing schemes that left vulnerable patients without the care they desperately needed, federal and state authorities announced Aug. 4. The defendants include home care company owners, home health aides and Medicaid recipients who prosecutors say exploited a safety net program designed to help the state's most fragile residents.
The cases reveal a troubling pattern. Some home health aides sought reimbursement for care they claimed to provide while incarcerated, hospitalized, working other jobs or even out of the country, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The schemes involved false billing records, overlapping shifts, kickbacks paid to clients and fraudulent time entries to collect Medicaid payments that should've gone to legitimate caregivers.
Impossible Hours, Real Harm
Federal authorities described recurring patterns of "impossible work hours" that reveal the scope of the fraud. One home health aide allegedly claimed to provide care for over 24 hours in a day on more than 1,100 occasions. Prosecutors said the aide billed for more than 64,000 hours "that could not have been worked," resulting in over $1.2 million in Medicaid payments—funds that never reached patients who needed assistance with basic daily tasks.
"The great fraud against the American taxpayer takes many forms," U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said in a statement. "It is outrageous and unacceptable that anyone could steal money by billing nonexistent home care services for caregivers who were, in fact, dead, in prison, or trafficking drugs."
Who Faces Charges
Prosecutors charged several Philadelphia-area home health aides and Medicaid recipients in separate indictments. Joseph Pizzo, 47, and Tiziana Taormina, 52, face conspiracy and health care fraud charges. Prosecutors alleged that Taormina submitted claims for home care services while Pizzo was incarcerated and while he was working in construction, leading to at least $160,000 in Medicaid payouts.
Another indictment accused Donna Romsteadt, 63; Alyssa Cuculino, 27; Louise Israel, 46; and Elexis Cuculino, 51, of similar health care fraud offenses. According to prosecutors, Alyssa Cuculino and Israel were aides and Romsteadt and Elexis Cuculino were Medicaid recipients. Alyssa Cuculino billed for home care services during periods when she was working another job or hospitalized, while Israel allegedly submitted claims while in jail. Prosecutors said the scheme resulted in about $445,000 in fraudulent payments.
Authorities also charged Albert Coccia Jr., 56, and his son, Santino Coccia, 28, alleging Santino Coccia billed Medicaid for services he claimed to provide to his father while working as a ride-share and food-delivery driver. The alleged fraud generated more than $211,000 in claims, prosecutors said.
Kickbacks and International Travel
In another case, prosecutors alleged that Sean Murray, 58, billed Medicaid about $400,000 for home care services that weren't provided while he was at a gym, traveling, visiting a massage parlor or selling drugs. Authorities accused him of paying kickbacks to clients to facilitate the scheme.
Prosecutors also charged Charles Bowie, 53, alleging he billed Medicaid while traveling internationally, including trips to Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and Colombia. Authorities said the scheme involved about $600,000 in Medicaid billings, most of which were fraudulent.
Another indictment accuses Benevolent Home Health LLC and its owners, Khaleelah Williams, 49, and Saleemah Davis, 29, of health care fraud conspiracy and wire fraud. The company's owners allegedly obtained about $224,000 in Medicaid payments through the scheme. Prosecutors accused the Philadelphia-based home health care company of billing Medicaid for services allegedly performed by Williams' husband while he was selling drugs and after he was arrested on drug trafficking charges. Davis and Williams also are accused of billing Medicaid for services allegedly provided by a home health aide who had died.
Why This Matters:
This fraud doesn't just drain public resources—it directly harms Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents who depend on Medicaid for essential home care services. When aides bill for hours they didn't work, elderly and disabled patients go without the assistance they need for bathing, eating, medication management and basic mobility. The $4 million stolen from Pennsylvania's Medicaid program represents care that never reached people who couldn't afford private alternatives. These cases highlight the urgent need for stronger oversight and accountability measures in home health care billing systems to protect both taxpayers and the patients who rely on these critical safety net programs. Without robust monitoring and enforcement, fraudulent providers can exploit gaps in the system while legitimate caregivers and vulnerable patients suffer the consequences.