Bolingbrook woman gets prison for stealing ‘millions of dollars’ in Medicaid fraud case

Bolingbrook woman was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing almost $2.5 million from taxpayers by fraudulently billing Medicaid-funded companies for services she did not provided, state officials said.

LaTeena Smith, 38, was the owner of a clinic called Power Positive Youth Development in Bolingbrook, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office.

Between 2021 and 2023, Smith submitted “fraudulent bills for psychotherapy services” that she did not provide to recipients of “Medicaid-managed care,” Raoul’s office said.

Smith billed Molina Healthcare for more than $978,000 and Meridian Health for more than $1.5 million, Raoul’s office said.

The companies provide services sponsored by Medicaid, a government program that provides health coverage for people of low income.

On Wednesday, DuPage County Judge Mia McPherson sentenced Smith to three years in prison. Smith was ordered to pay more than $2.2 million in restitution and she has already paid $1.5 million.

Raoul said Smith’s sentence should “send a clear message that anyone who defrauds Illinois’ Medicaid program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The investigation of Smith was conducted by Raoul’s office and the Illinois State Police.

The investigation was also conducted by inspector general offices with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

The inspector general office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure “vital taxpayer dollars are used lawfully” and not for “illegitimate financial gain,” said Mario Pinto, a special agent in charge of the office.

“This provider took millions of dollars from taxpayers by billing Medicaid programs for services that were not rendered to her patients,” Pinto said of Smith.