Florida Woman Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – A Florida woman, who billed Medicaid for services she did not provide while living and working in the New River Valley, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke on healthcare fraud charges, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. and Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced today.

Jennifer Ashlee Zenitz Engorn, 28, of Miami, Florida, who previously pled guilty to one count of healthcare fraud, was sentenced today to two years of probation, a fine of $1,100 and a $100 special assessment. Engorn was also ordered to pay $8,352 in restitution to the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

“Healthcare fraud cannot and will not be tolerated,” United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said today. “Our diminishing health care dollars must be used wisely and legally. Those who break the law and steal money from these important programs will be held accountable. We are proud to work with the professional investigators in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to protect these important programs.”

According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Jennie L.M. Waering, Engorn was employed to provide mental health skill building services to low income patients served by Medicaid. However, Engorn did not provide these services and provided false documentation to her employer causing the billing of Medicaid for the services that were not rendered.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jennie L.M. Waering and Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Vaso T. Doubles prosecuted the case for the United States.