Home health care owner sent to prison

HOUSTON – A 63-year-old Sugar Land resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joyce Agu pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2022.   

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered her to prison for a total of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional regarding Agu’s family and her charitable contributions. However, Judge Crane considered how extensive the fraudulent scheme was and the millions that were siphoned from the Medicare program. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of fraud.

At the time of her plea, Agu admitted she paid others to certify her clients for home health services in order to bill Medicare. These beneficiaries did not qualify for the services and, in some cases, did not receive them. 

Medicare paid Agu’s companies over $3 million based on the fraudulent claims.

Agu was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Attorney General’s - Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case.