New Mexico authorities prosecute major Medicaid fraud schemes

New Mexico authorities have secured convictions and prison sentences in two separate Medicaid fraud and identity theft schemes.

In Silver City, Susanne Kee and Bethanne Kee were each sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felonies, including Medicaid fraud and 35 counts of identity theft. Operating through a nonprofit called Kids in Need of Support Services, the pair used the identities of children and adults to bill Medicaid for services that were never provided. They were ordered to pay $6.6 million in total, consisting of $1.6 million in criminal restitution and $4.9 million in civil penalties.

In Las Cruces, therapist Nancy Marshall, owner of Equine Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico, pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud, falsification of documents, and theft of identity. Marshall fabricated counseling diagnoses and records to fraudulently bill the state $970,108. Following a failure to appear at her sentencing hearing with the required restitution, Marshall was remanded into custody and sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation.