Pair faces Medicaid fraud charges
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By Louis Porter VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: November 26, 2009
Federal and state prosecutors are each pursuing cases after a joint investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud against two women, one from Barre and the other from Windsor.
In its case against Valerie Tofani of Barre, the state's Attorney General's office charges that she claimed payment from the state's Medicaid Children's Personal Care Services program for care she did not provide. Tofani, 41, was arraigned in White River Junction District Court on Tuesday and pleaded innocent. Her attorney declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, the office of the U.S. Attorney for Vermont is pursuing a case against Taylor Riff of Windsor, charges which sprang from the same joint state and federal investigation.
That case involves allegations that Riff and others conspired to defraud the same Medicaid program. Riff is expected to be arraigned next week in Burlington, according to prosecutors.
Although the two cases involve similar allegations the two defendants are not accused of acting together, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher.
Vermont Assistant Attorney General Linda Purdy said two previously filed cases also came from the same state and federal investigation.
"The important aspect of this case is that it is Medicaid dollars," Purdy said. In some cases, Medicaid recipients are only eligible for a limited amount of care in a given year, an amount which can be reduced by fraud.
"It hurts the community at large," Purdy added. "Medicaid and Medicare have to operate on an honor system. It is a betrayal of the public trust."
One goal in such prosecutions is to replace the money taken from the Medicaid program, Purdy said. Another is to deter others who might consider committing fraud, she added.
Tofani faces five felony counts of Medicaid fraud and five misdemeanor counts of false pretences, according to prosecutors.
If convicted, Tofani, who was released with conditions, faces up to 55 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.
In the federal case, a Burlington grand jury issued an indictment alleging that Riff claimed her children received care they did not get, allegedly improperly costing Medicaid more than $40,000. Those charges could result in a five-year prison sentence, according to prosecutors.
"The Children's Personal Care Services program provides families of eligible children with the option of selecting the individuals to provide personal care in their homes, and to choose the time when the care is provided," according to a joint statement by state and federal prosecutors. "In the cases announced today, the defendants are accused of schemes that take advantage of this flexibility so as to defraud the program."
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