Nursing home aid sentenced to 9 years in jail for Medicare Fraud

A medical aide at the center of the multimillion-dollar City Nursing MedicareŒ fraud scheme in Houston was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison on Friday.U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon cited the huge financial loss to the government insurance program in giving Godwin Chiedo Nzeocha 109 months.He will receive credit for the year he’s already spent in custody. Court records in the case accuse Nzeocha and his co-conspirators of billing Medicare for physical therapy that was either unnecessary or never happened. Of about $36 million billed to the government, about $26 million was actually paid to the company.The 46-year-old received more than $1 million for services between 2007 and 2009, which he agreed to forfeit under a plea agreement. Nine people were indicted in the fraud case. Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers.