HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that — as part of a national takedown to combat health care fraudsters — eight people have been charged with Medicaid Fraud in Pennsylvania, resulting in more than $260,000 in losses.
The charges were announced as part of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) annual National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a coordinated effort with law enforcement agencies nationwide bringing charges regarding a combined $6.5 billion in Medicaid and Medicare Fraud.
Among the eight people charged in Pennsylvania are two Philadelphia caretakers who, in separate schemes, falsely reported work hours, bilking Medicaid of nearly $180,000.
“This national initiative shows that people are defrauding and exploiting every day a system designed to help our most vulnerable residents — and that is unacceptable,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Last year, our Medicaid Fraud Control Section secured the most convictions nationwide, and our commitment to rooting out this fraud has only grown stronger.”
The eight charged are Kyania Townes, 40, Philadelphia; Takisha Armstrong, 38, Philadelphia; Ghada Mahjoub, 54, Jenkintown; Samantha Hall, 34, York; Jennifer Coleman, 51, York; Edward Green, 50, Philadelphia; Teresa Geiger, 47, Apollo; Shaquil Veney, 32, Philadelphia.
The charges stem from multiple investigations conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section.
Townes was employed as a personal care assistant (PCA) with home care agency Blessings4Ever. During this same time, she was also employed with Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) and Jefferson Hospital. An investigation revealed Townes submitted time entries to the home care agency that overlapped with shifts where she was physically present at CHOP or Jefferson. This resulted in Townes fraudulently submitting time for approximately $108,344 for services that could not have been rendered.
Armstrong was a PCA who submitted time entries for more than one Medicaid consumer at the same time, causing AmeriHealth to pay approximately $70,332 for services that could not have been rendered.
Majoub was a licensed behavioral specialist who reported providing over 500 hours of individual services to two children at the same time and in two different locations. Majoub submitted falsified documentation, including case notes, for $9,845 of services not rendered to children in school or community settings.
The additional five cases include further allegations of billing or submitting time entries for services not rendered. The defendants are charged with various offenses, including Medicaid Fraud, theft by deception, and tampering with public records.
These cases are being prosecuted by attorneys with the Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Recently, Attorney General Sunday announced an annual report that ranks the Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section at No. 1, nationally, in criminal convictions, and third overall in charges filed against those who steal from Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program which provides limited-income and vulnerable populations with access to healthcare.
The Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $13,491,632 for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $4,497,207 for FY 2026, is funded by Pennsylvania.
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