The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that a criminal charge of health care fraud has been filed against Edward Evans of Wernersville, PA.

According to United States Attorney, Peter Smith, Evans, age 50, is charged in a one-count felony information with health care fraud based on the submission of false claims to the Pennsylvania Attendant Care Medicaid Waiver Program. The information alleges Evans’ billed for and received reimbursement for attendant care services which were never performed.

The investigation which is ongoing was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section. Assistant United States Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson is assigned to prosecute the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statues and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is ten years’ imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.